Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Storing Green Mangoes: Keep Them Fresh and Flavorful All Year Round!

Preserving raw sour fruits can be a game-changer for home cooks, offering a handy helping hand in the kitchen.

5 July, 2024

The star fruit, or carambola, is a unique and delicious treat that is perfect for summer. Not only does it quench your thirst and enhance the flavor of your dishes, but it’s also packed with vitamins that boost your immune system.

Star fruit is typically only available during two short harvesting seasons per year, so it’s essential to stock up and preserve them for long-term use. Let’s explore two methods to keep your star fruit fresh and tasty, ensuring they remain as good as newly picked all year round.

2 Methods to Keep Your Star Fruit Fresh and Flavorful

1. Star Fruit Ice Cubes

Proper preservation techniques can extend the shelf life and maintain the quality of star fruit. Preparing “star fruit ice cubes” not only enhances their nutritional value but also makes them incredibly convenient to use.

When selecting star fruit, opt for those with slightly rough skin, a moderate level of ripeness, thick and crisp flesh, and small seeds. Avoid fruit with bruised, shiny, or overly ripe skin.

For preparation, remove the stems from the unripe fruit and peel them, then give them a good wash. Ripe star fruit only needs stem removal and a thorough cleaning; no peeling is necessary. The preservation process is the same for both types.

2 ways to keep star fruit fresh and tasty all year round

Boil the star fruit until cooked, then allow it to cool. Remove the seeds and blend the fruit with the cooking water in a blender.

Finally, pour the mixture into ice cube trays and freeze. When needed, simply pop out a few cubes and add them to your dish.

Notes:

When making sour soup, use these cubes to adjust the sourness to your taste. Always peel the star fruit before preserving to avoid bitterness in your dishes.

With this method, cooking and preparing dishes like sour soup or boiled water spinach becomes quicker and easier than ever before.

2. Freezing Star Fruit

After purchasing star fruit, thoroughly peel away the outer skin, being careful not to cut too deeply into the flesh, which can cause discoloration. Soak the fruit in water for about 10 minutes, then rinse and dry it.

Star fruit packaged in individual bags for easy freezing and storage.

Place the fruit in airtight bags or containers, or wrap them in foil, with approximately 300g per bag, and store them in the freezer.

Notes:

Always peel the star fruit before storing, and divide it into smaller portions for easier preservation and future use. Avoid cutting off the stems, as the fruit may become mushy when thawed. Don’t leave the skin on when cooking, as it can make your dishes bitter.

Preserving star fruit is essential to take full advantage of its nutritional value and unique characteristics. Choose the method that best suits your needs, ensuring the fruit remains clean and protected from air and high temperatures to prolong its freshness. Good luck, and happy cooking!

Frequently asked questions

To store green mangoes and maintain their freshness and flavor, start by choosing firm, unripe mangoes with intact stems. Then, create a mango storage solution by mixing water and vinegar in a 10:1 ratio. Soak the mangoes in this solution for 2-3 minutes, dry them thoroughly, and wrap each mango in a paper towel. Finally, place the wrapped mangoes in a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator, where they can last for up to 3 weeks.

The mango storage solution, a mixture of water and vinegar, acts as a natural disinfectant and helps kill bacteria and fungi that may cause the mangoes to rot. Soaking the mangoes in this solution creates an initial protective barrier. Additionally, wrapping each mango in a paper towel absorbs excess moisture, preventing the growth of mold and maintaining the mangoes’ freshness.

After soaking the mangoes in the storage solution, it is crucial to dry them thoroughly. You can use a clean cloth or kitchen towel to gently pat them dry. Ensure that you cover the entire surface of the mangoes and remove any visible moisture. This step is essential to prevent the growth of bacteria and to maintain the quality of the mangoes during storage.

Storing green mangoes in the refrigerator helps to significantly slow down the ripening process. Mangoes continue to ripen after being picked, and refrigeration helps to prolong their shelf life. The cool temperature in the refrigerator also inhibits the growth of bacteria and maintains the crispness and freshness of the mangoes.

No, this storage method is specifically designed for green, unripe mangoes. Ripe mangoes have different storage requirements as they are more perishable and have a shorter shelf life. For ripe mangoes, it is recommended to store them in the refrigerator but without soaking them in the storage solution or wrapping them in paper towels.