A staple ingredient in tropical smoothies, see how to properly freeze and store mangos.
Freezing Mangos
Frozen mangos are so tasty in smoothies. They add a sweet, tropical flavor while chilling and thickening the drink.
If you have fresh ripe mangos, freezing lets you keep them for longer.
It also uses less plastic than buying frozen bagged mango at the grocery store.
Prepping and freezing mangos will make it super easy to make smoothies quickly whenever you like.
Plus, frozen mango is just as nutritious as fresh. That’s because freezing fruit retains the nutrients.
RELATED: 12 Benefits of Eating Mangos
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Rinse the mango under cool running water. Dry with a clean towel.
Step 2: Cut the sides of the mango.
Step 3: Cube the mango.
Step 4: Place the mango on a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat in a single layer.
Step 5: Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer. Freeze until the mango is frozen.
Step 6: Store the mango in a freezer-safe bag.
Photo Credit: amazon.com
Expert Tips
Choose ripe mangos.
For the best flavor and texture, only freeze ripe mangos.
You can tell a mango is ripe if it smells slightly sweet and has some give when you squeeze it. The peel should have some red-orange areas.
If it’s all green, firm, and has no scent, it’s likely unripe.
Avoid slicing through the peel.
When cutting a grid pattern in the mango, don’t go through the peel. This will let you scoop out the cubes and remove it from the skin.
After scooping out the mango flesh, you can use a knife to separate the cubes as needed.
Use a plate instead of a baking sheet.
Instead of a baking sheet, you can also use a plate.
This is a good option if your baking sheets are too big for the freezer.
Avoid plastic plates, which might break in the freezer. Use one made of freezer-safe materials, like ceramic.
Questions You May Have
When freezing mangos for smoothies, you’ll need to cut them into cubes. It will be easier for your blender to puree the smaller pieces.
Frozen mango will keep in the freezer for 8 to 12 months. It will be safe to eat if frozen for longer, but the flavor and texture might be off.
You can add frozen mango directly to a blender. When pureed with other smoothie ingredients, frozen mango has a thickening and chilling effect.
Mango Smoothie Recipes
- Raspberry Mango Smoothie
- Strawberry Mango Smoothie (Dairy-Free)
- Kale Mango Smoothie (Dairy-Free)
- Mango Collagen Smoothie
- Mango Smoothie (Dairy-Free)
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How to Freeze Mango Properly
INGREDIENTS
- Mango
INSTRUCTIONS
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Set aside.
- Rinse the mango under cool running water. Dry with a clean towel.
- Cut the sides of the mango. Place the mango with the stem side down on a cutting board, then cut the wide, flat flesh on each side of the pit. Place the mango pit on the cutting board. Cut off the small wedges of flesh on each side of the pit.
- Cube the mango.In each mango half, cut a grid pattern without slicing the peel. Scoop out the cubes with a spoon. For the wedges, slice away the skin and cut the flesh into cubes.
- Place the mango cubes on a baking sheet in a single layer.Make sure not to let the mango cubes touch to prevent them from freezing together.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer.Freeze for 1 to 2 hours, or until the mango is frozen.
- Put frozen mango cubes into a freezer-safe bag and store in the freezer.Press out excess air from the freezer bag to reduce the risk of freezer burn.Use frozen mangos within 8-12 months.
NOTES
- Only freeze ripe mangos. You can tell a mango is ripe if it smells slightly sweet and has some give when you squeeze it. The peel should have red-orange areas.
- When cutting a grid pattern in the mango, don’t go through the peel.
- Instead of a baking sheet, you can also use a plate. This is a good option if your baking sheets are too big for the freezer.