ShelfLife
How long do mangoes last?
Mangoes keep 3 to 5 days at room temperature from purchase, and about 1 week in the fridge. Cut into pieces, they freeze for 6 to 8 months. Papaya and passion fruit follow the same times.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mango, papaya, passion fruit | 1 weekfrom purchase | 6–8 months | 3–5 daysfrom purchase |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if a mango has gone bad
- A sour, fermented or alcoholic smell.
- Large dark, sunken or oozing patches on the skin, or mold.
- Mushy, stringy, very dark or slimy flesh. A few black specks in the flesh can be cut away.
How to store mangoes
- Ripen hard mangoes at room temperature; a paper bag speeds it up.
- A mango is ripe when it gives slightly to gentle pressure and smells sweet at the stem. Color varies by variety.
- Move ripe mangoes to the fridge to keep them about a week.
- Keep cut mango in a sealed container in the fridge and eat it within a few days.
Can you freeze mango?
Yes, peeled and cubed, for 6 to 8 months. Freeze the cubes in a single layer, then bag them. Frozen mango is perfect for smoothies and sorbets; thawed, it's softer but good in sauces, salsas and baking.
Questions
Should mangoes be refrigerated?
Not until they're ripe: cold stops them ripening. Ripe mangoes keep longer in the fridge.
How long does cut mango last?
A few days in a sealed container in the fridge.
Can you eat a mango with black spots on the skin?
Small dark spots on the skin are common and harmless. If the flesh underneath is firm and smells good, the mango is fine.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.