The monsoon rains are here and that means that the mango season in Kerala has officially ended. However, there are a few trees here and there across the state that still produce the fruits in season. When the rains start, the mango trees will soon be empty and local varieties will no longer be available. We have the perfect solution so you can enjoy the spicy taste of raw mangoes all year round. Once ripe, mangoes should be moved to the refrigerator, which will delay the ripening process.
Whole, ripe mangoes can be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator. An immature mango needs between one day and seven days to ripen. Once ripe, it lasts 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator, but only 2 to 3 days if you leave it at room temperature. Transfer the mango pieces to a bowl with a flat surface. Store them in the fridge for one hour, without putting a lid on them.
After an hour, take it out and separate the pieces that are glued together. Place them in a resealable bag or in a regular plastic cover. Fold the lid and store it in an airtight container. Store this container in the refrigerator. Mangoes stored this way will remain fresh for up to a year.
If you are not an expert on mangoes, you should know that wrinkles on its skin depend on the type of mango you are seeing. It's a taste that can be acquired and, if that taste starts to grow in you, you'll be tempted to try the mango salad, the mango pachadi and the Aam Panna, a drink that is guaranteed to cool you down on sunny days. A fully ripe mango will give off a sweet and fruity scent, while a mango going through its prime produces a strong and unpleasantly bitter scent. If the mango pulp has large black areas everywhere or it leaks out too much juice, it's likely that the mango has gone bad, and it should not be eaten.
