Mangoes are a sweet and tangy. It has been described as a cross between a peach and a pineapple. A mango can be green or red in color depending on the variety. They range from round to oblong in shape and are generally the size of an avocado.

Mangoes can weigh anywhere from 6 ounces and 5 pounds. Mangoes are mainly available during the summer months. However, you can find them as early as January.

How do you select mangoes? Avoid fruit with blemishes or shriveled skin. It should also be absent of any mushy spots.

Mangoes with a dingy color to it may not be ripe. When you can smell the mango and press it with out damaging, it is ripe. It is also normal to see black dots on the fruit (it does not mean it is rotten nor has bugs in it)

Mangoes are usually shipped before they ripened. It may be necessary for you to speed up the ripening process. You can ripen them by putting the mangoes in a paper bag. Alternatively, you can leave the mango in a warm area away from the sun.

When preparing a mangoes cut around the large seed first to avoid injury. Cut around each side of the fruit. Then proceed to cut or peel the peel off (it is not edible).

You can also use a spoon to remove the fruit directly off the seed. Then proceed to cut the fruit up as desired.

When serving mangoes, serve them chilled. When served chilled it doesn't have a strong aroma.

Mangoes a healthy way to achieve you goal of five fruits and vegetables a day. The are high in Vitamin A and C.