How To Make Your Mango Season Last Long?

While having fresh mangoes for dessert, I realized why Mirza Galib loved mangoes; they’re sweet, juicy, and they taste like home. Sadly, this magical fruit appears only in the summers, and you have to wait several months before you can enjoy the wholesomeness of pulp again. That might be saddening for someone who would love to have the marvelous taste accompanying them all year round. But there is a workaround. Even if you cannot have fresh mango every month, you can preserve the best fresh mangoes to enjoy their goodness for long without using chemical preservatives. Let’s look at some of the ways of preserving your affordable mangoes!

Freeze The Pulp:

It is a no-brainer that freezing increases the shelf life of many food items, but there is a right way to do it too. You cannot simply put your best-quality mangoes in the freezer. The mango skin will get all wrinkly, soft and give an unappetizing look upon removing from the freezer. Instead, you can save the pulp! Just peel and cut the mango into cubes and blend the cubes into a puree using a mixer juicer. Do not add any sugar or water. After the puree smoothens, transfer it into vacuum ziplocked bags and place them in the freezer. Unfortunately, you cannot refreeze the pulp after removing it from the freezer. However, you can refrigerate it for a couple of days. It is why remember to use small bags so you can take out one portion at a time.

Save The Cubes:

Frozen pulp is perfect for smoothies and drinks, but you might want more solid mangoes for some dishes and desserts. So, instead of preserving the pulp, let’s talk about saving mango cubes. Peel the mangoes and cut them into bite-sized cubes. Spread them in a tray so the cubes do not touch one another. It would ensure deep and thorough freezing of individual pieces. Freeze the cubes in that tray until they turn solid. Then, transfer them to a zip lock bag after removing all the air. Avoid placing the bags over one another to keep the cubes firm and in shape. The mangoes pieces can get mushed over if not placed carefully. Adjust the temperature to about -18°C. This way, you can keep the mango cubes preserved for several months.

Make Mango Chutney:

Mango chutney is a perfect desi mango preservation; it is easy to make, long-lasting yet always ready to serve. All you need is a handful of readily available desi spices and herbs, 4-5 firm but ripe mangoes, one tablespoon of cooking oil, 2 cups of granulated sugar, and 1 cup of white vinegar. Heat the oil, add the spices and sauté. Then add the sugar, vinegar, and peeled and diced mangoes. Combine the mixture, rapidly boil and let it simmer for an hour. If you prefer, you can use a potato masher to make mango chunks smaller. Let the mixture cool before canning. Due to its high acidity, the chutney can last a couple of months. You can elongate the shelf life to almost a year by keeping the cans in a sterilized, cool and dark environment.

Mango season is ending in a couple of weeks, and this is the perfect time to buy mangoes and stock your reserves. With just a few steps, you can make your top quality mangoes purchase into top quality mango chutney to have as a delightful side for the rest of your year. You can also ensure you have the purest smoothie until the next season by freezing the pulp or mango cubes.