Got more mango than you can handle this week? Great, because I had the same problem a few years ago and I had to quickly learn how to freeze mango for months and how to use the frozen fruit in smoothies and other recipes. So, that’s what we’ll talk about today! We’re very practical.
In India and Southeast Asia, where mango originated, it is considered the king of fruits. And there is quite a good reason behind this, as this fruit is not only exquisite but also extremely beneficial to your health. It is a tropical stone fruit, which means that it has a large seed in the middle. It takes mango fruit as long as three to five months to ripen after flowering. If you want to enjoy the ripe mango’s incredible taste for longer, then it would be a good idea to freeze some for rainy days! Freezing is the best and easiest way to preserve mango for months.
Reasons To Freeze Mango
- Save money. When in season mangoes are plentiful, relatively cheap, and often on sale. This is the best time to buy in bulk and freeze mango.
- Reduce food waste. If you can’t eat all the mango you bought, just cut it up and freeze it. It’s great for your wallet as well as your health.
- Your smoothies will be thicker, sweet and cool without ice or a sweetener.
- Still super healthy. Mangoes can retain their nutritional value when frozen. The fruits are naturally packed with vitamins and minerals and may prevent diabetes, boost immunity and improve your digestive health.
- Practical. You won’t need to peel and cut fresh mango to use in your recipes – you already did that! Frozen mango is very practical to use in the kitchen!
How to Freeze Mango
Here are two great ways to freeze ripe fresh mango for months!
Freezing Mango Pieces or Chunks
This method to me works the best, as you can use the frozen mango pieces in whatever recipes you desire. In baked goods, as topping for cakes or in smoothies. It’s super versatile. Here’s how to do it:
- Peel the mango, then cut around the pit as to remove it. Here’s a great tutorial on how to peel and cut mango, if you’re inexperienced with it.
- After that, cut it into chunks, slices, or cubes, whichever size or shape you prefer.
- Take a baking sheet covered with baking paper and then place the pieces in a single layer. Make sure that they don’t touch each other, so that they don’t stick together in the next step.
- Flash-freeze the pieces for about 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Finally, transfer the frozen mango pieces into freezer bags. Kitchen thongs can be helpful with this!
- Make sure to press the excess air out of the bags and seal them. It’s a good idea to also label the freezer bags with the date so that you know exactly when you froze them.
Method 2. Freezing Mango Puree
If you have some super ripe mangoes that will fall apart in case you try to cut them, then turn them into puree! Here’s how to make and freeze mango puree.
- Peel the mango, then cut around the pit as to remove it. Here’s a great tutorial if you don’t know how to do it. You don’t need the small pieces, just cut around the pit.
- Put the ripe mango into a blender or use a bowl and your hand blender to blend until smooth.
- Portion out the mango puree into freezer bags, filling up with as much as you’ll need. It’s more practical to not overfill the bags, as you would need to use up the entire batch once you defrost them. Remember to squeeze out the excess air before sealing the freeze bags.
- Lay the filled freezer bags flat in the freezer and stack them on top of each other.
- Another option, if you need just a very small amount is to use ice cube trays (those will be great for infused water too!). To do this fill the ice cube trays with the puree, freeze overnight and transfer into freezer bags in the morning.
- And finally, label the bags with the date and store them in the freezer for up to two months.
Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Mango?
Well, it depends.
If you intend to use the frozen mango in a smoothie, cocktail, or another cold drink, then you don’t have to thaw it in advance. Using frozen mango chunks will mean that you will add a bit less ice.
In fruit salads, in cakes or as topping for desserts, or salsa or sauces, it’s a good idea to thaw the frozen fruit. To do so slowly, transfer the frozen mango chunks to the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. They will need as long as 7-8 hours to thaw depending on the temperature in your fridge. Alternatively, leave at room temperature for about 1-2 hours.
How Long Will Frozen Mango Last in the Freezer?
If properly stored the frozen mango can stay good to eat for up to 6 months. Make sure to not damage the freezer bags and to not defrost and re-freeze.
You will know that the frozen mango is no longer good when you see dry spots or discoloration. This means that a freezer burn has occurred. Your frozen mango probably won’t be unsafe to eat, but its taste and texture will be compromised.
How to Use Frozen Mango
Mango is super versatile and can be used in countless delicious recipes. When frozen you can use it to make smoothies, ice cream or even mango cake!
Other Ways to Preserve Mango
Freezing is an excellent way to preserve fruits for months. However, if you don’t have enough space in your freezer, or you are not a big fan of frozen food, then consider drying the mango slices in a dehydrator or canning the fruit.
More Cooking And Healthy Recipes
Well, now you know how to freeze mango to use it in smoothies or for healthy ice cream recipes! For more healthy cooking tips and recipes, check out these articles:
How To Freeze Mango For Months
Learn how to freeze mango and preserve it for months. You can use the frozen mango in smoothies, to infuse water, to make ice cream and other recipes!
Ingredients
- 1 Mango
Instructions
- Peel the mango, then cut around the pit as to remove it. Here’s a great tutorial on how to peel and cut mango, if you’re inexperienced with it.
- After that, cut it into chunks, slices, or cubes, whichever size or shape you prefer.
- Take a baking sheet covered with baking paper and then place the pieces in a single layer. Make sure that they don’t touch each other, so that they don’t stick together in the next step.
- Flash-freeze the pieces for about 2-3 hours or overnight.
- Finally, transfer the frozen mango pieces into freezer bags. Kitchen thongs can be helpful with this!
- Make sure to press the excess air out of the bags and seal them. It’s a good idea to also label the freezer bags with the date so that you know exactly when you froze them.
Nutrition Information
Yield
1Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 202Total Fat 1gSaturated Fat 0gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 0mgSodium 3mgCarbohydrates 50gFiber 5gSugar 46gProtein 3g