How to Freeze Mango

Mangoes are always plentiful towards the end of summer. There are many different ways to freeze mangoes, and you can pick and choose which method to use based on your preference. Freeze them whole or in chunks, and as a result, you’ll be able to use them in a variety of dishes! To learn more about how to freeze this tropical treat, read on!

Freezing is one of the best methods to preserve mangoes to enjoy them throughout the year. This post will introduce you to three methods that you can use when freezing mangoes. However, before we move on to the different techniques you can use to freeze mangoes, it’s essential to know whether mangoes freeze well!

Do Mangoes Freeze Well?

Freezing mangoes preserves its taste well, making it one of the preferred methods of preserving mangoes for many people. As long as you follow a proper freezing technique, you will enjoy the refreshing taste of mangoes throughout the year!

The only slight drawback of freezing mangoes is that they lose some of their firmness when you thaw them and are slightly mushy in texture.

Method #1: Freeze Mango Chunks

Freezing your mango in chunks is a great way to prepare your mango for baked goods, smoothies, salads, or other recipes! When freezing mangoes using this method, you can freeze them in slices or cubes, varying the size according to your preference.

Preparing the Mangoes

You can use two approaches to prepare your mango chunks; the section below describes them both.

Approach #1: Using a paring knife

What you Need:

• Chef’s Knife
• Paring Knife
• Cutting Board

Instructions:

1. Rinse your mangoes with water to get rid of any dirt that may be on the mangoes. Each mango has an oblong seed along its center. Our strategy is to cut around the seed to get the maximum flesh from the mangoes.
2. Place your mango on the cutting board, holding it such that the stem end is pointing upwards. Using your knife, cut into the mango, ¼ inch from its stem, starting from the top and cutting to the bottom.
3. Repeat this same step on the other side of the stem, and you will end up with three slices from your mango.
4. The next step is to cut a criss-cross pattern into the two end slices without the seed. Hold the mango slice in your non-dominant hand and, using the paring knife, cut vertical incisions into the flesh of the mango, taking care that you don’t go all the way through the skin. Turn the mango in 90 degrees and repeat the vertical incisions so that you end up with a criss-cross pattern.
5. Invert the mango slice so that the cubes pop out. Using your paring knife or a spoon, simply scoop out the mango scoops.
6. Repeat these steps to get the flesh out from the other seedless mango slice as well.
7. To remove the flesh from the middle mango slice, use your paring knife first to remove the skin of the mango. Simply place the paring knife right below the skin and pull it in a downward motion to separate it from the flesh entirely.
8. Finally, use the paring knife to cut away as much flesh as possible from the mango seed.

If you find the above method a little intimidating, don’t worry. We have another simple technique you can use.

Approach #2: Using a vegetable peeler

What you need:

• Vegetable peeler
• Paring knife
• Cutting board

Instructions:

1. Using the vegetable peeler, peel the mango completely to get rid of its skin. Be careful when peeling the mango, as it can get a little slippery.
2. Place your peeled mango on the cutting board, and then with the paring knife, cut it into three slices, taking care to cut around the mango seed.
3. You can now cut the mango pieces without the seed into chunks or even into small slices if you prefer.
4. For the center mango piece that still has the seed, carefully cut off the flesh around it.

Freezing the Mango Chunks

What you need:

• 2 – 3 mangoes cut into chunks
• Parchment paper
• Baking tray
• Freezer containers

Instructions:

1. Line your baking tray using parchment paper.
2. Spread the mango chunks over the parchment paper, ensuring space between each mango piece for air to flow.
3. Place the baking tray in the freezer for at least 3 – 4 hours to allow the mango chunks to freeze completely.
4. Lastly, transfer the frozen mango pieces to a freezer bag and squeeze out as much air as possible from it before closing it and placing it in the freezer.

Freezing the mango in chunks is best when you plan on using them in smoothies. You can take them out of the freezer bag and chuck them straight into the blender to make your smoothie!

Method #2: Freezing Mango Puree

What you Need:

• 2 – 3 large mangoes cut into chunks
• Freezer containers/ice-cube tray
• ½ cup sugar (optional)

Instructions:

1. Peel and cut your mangoes into chunks using any of the methods mentioned above.
2. Add your mango chunks to the blender jar. Next,blend them until you get a smooth consistency.
3. As an optional step, you can also add in the sugar and blend the puree. Sugar helps in retaining the color of the mangoes and also keeps the puree from browning.
4. When storing pureed mangoes, it’s best to keep them in individual containers depending on your portion size, as once thawed, it isn’t recommended to freeze the mango puree again.
5. Pour the mango puree into the freezer containers and store it in the freezer so that it can freeze.
6. If you are using the ice-cube tray, pour the mango puree into the tray, and once frozen in the freezer, you can transfer them to freezer bags for easy storage.

Mangoes frozen using this method can be used in desserts, cocktails, and a variety of other dishes! Frozen mango puree will last up to 6 months in your freezer.

Method #3: Freezing Mangoes Using a Simple Syrup

What you need:

• 2 – 3 large mangoes cut into chunks
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar

Instructions:

1. In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar.
2. Place the saucepan on the stovetop and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring it to help dissolve the sugar.
3. Once the sugar has dissolved completely, take the pan off the heat and then, let it cool down to room temperature.
4. While your syrup is cooling down, you can prepare your mangoes by peeling them and cutting them into chunks. You can use any of the methods above!
5. Add the mango chunks to a freezer container and once the syrup has cooled down, add it to the container leaving about 1-inch headspace.
6. Label the container with the freezing date.
7. Place the container in the freezer and let freeze!

Mangoes frozen this method can last up to 12 months if stored properly.

How to enjoy frozen mangoes?

Frozen mangoes are one the best tropical treats that you can enjoy whenever you want! Use them in elaborate dishes or simply out of the bag! Below are a few ideas you can try:

Smoothies

Mango smoothies are a great way to use frozen mangoes. First, freeze chunks of the mangoes for several hours until they are solid. Then put the pieces in your blender with ice and other ingredients like vanilla yogurt or orange juice. Blend, and it’s ready!

Mango Ice Lollies

You can make a great frozen treat using frozen mangoes! Simply blend frozen mango chunks with some orange juice and freeze using popsicle molds! A simple and delicious treat to enjoy on a hot summer day!

Mango Salsa

Create a refreshing mango salsa using thawed frozen mangoes, chopped red onions, cilantro, lime juice, and seasoning of your choice. This salsa tastes great as a side dish with meat or even with corn chips!

Mango Treat

Sprinkle a little bit of chili powder on thawed frozen mangoes and enjoy it as a sweet and spicy treat!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze the mangoes whole without peeling them?

It is possible to freeze whole mangoes without peeling them. However, this method isn’t recommended as removing the skin, and the seed when the mango is frozen becomes difficult. Also, as the mango thaws, the texture becomes much mushier compared to frozen mango chunks, which isn’t ideal. Another point to note is that freezing mangoes whole takes up a lot of room in the freezer!

How to choose mangoes for freezing?

It is essential to choose the correct mangoes for freezing. Choosing overly ripe mangoes results in a highly mushy texture when it’s thawed. Instead, choose mangoes that are ripe but still firm. These mangoes will have a firm texture but will still give a little when pressed lightly. Ripe mangoes will also have a sweet aroma which will help you identify them.

How to defrost a frozen mango?

There are several ways you can defrost your frozen mangoes. However, thawing them in the fridge is the safest way to defrost them. However, as this method takes some time, it’s better to do it overnight. Simply move your container with the frozen mangoes from the freezer to the refrigerator at night and leave it overnight.

You can also use a pot of cold water. Fill a pot with cold water and submerge your container with the frozen mango in it. You should have your thawed mangoes ready in 3 – 4 hours.

Conclusion

Mangoes make summer one of the best seasons of the year. You can use this freezing guide to make this summer season last all year round! You can also check out some of our other freezing guides here.