Hey Lykkers!

Have you ever brought home a mango, all excited to eat it… only to bite in and realize it's still hard and sour?

That used to happen to me a lot. But after many mango mishaps, I finally figured out three super easy ways to check if a mango is ripe—without cutting it open!

So next time you're mango shopping or checking the ones at home, keep these tricks in mind. Let's save our taste buds and enjoy mangoes the right way.

1. Check the Smell 👃

Honestly, this is my favorite test. A ripe mango will have a sweet, fruity aroma right around the stem area. Just give the top a little sniff—if it smells like mango candy or juice, it's probably ready. No smell? Then it's still not there yet. If it smells sour or a bit off, it might already be overripe.

Pro tip: Always check a few different ones before picking your winner!

2. Gently Squeeze It 🤏

This one is like checking an avocado. A ripe mango should give slightly when you press it, but not feel mushy or too soft. If it's rock hard, leave it to ripen a few more days at room temperature. If it dents too easily or feels wet inside, it's gone too far.

Just hold it in your palm and give it a light squeeze—don't poke it with your fingers or you might bruise it.

3. Look at the Color 🎨

This one depends a bit on the mango type (because some stay green even when ripe), but generally, ripe mangoes have a warmer tone. Yellow, orange, red blushes—all are good signs. If it's fully green with no color shift and still hard, it's probably not ready yet.

But remember, color alone isn't enough. Always combine this with the smell and squeeze tests.

Bonus Tip! 🍴

If you bought an unripe mango, just leave it on the counter for a few days. Want to speed it up? Pop it in a paper bag with a banana—it'll ripen faster thanks to the gas the banana gives off (no fridge needed!).

Now it's your turn, Lykkers!

Do you have a favorite mango variety? Or a funny mango fail like mine? Let me know in the comments—I'd love to hear your fruity stories!