Mangos

[sherrardk]

Sorry for being dim - how do you know when a mango is ripe and what do you do with them? Just chop them up or are you supposed to do that criss-cross, turn inside out hedgehog thing?

[Prudie]

If they feel reasonably soft and squidgy when you press them they are ripe. I just score the skin and peel it away. Then carefully cut away the flesh. There's a big stone in the middle that has fibrous bits attached that will not come off.

[sherrardk]

Do you eat the 'fibrous' bits? Also, are they sweet, tart, etc? Himself bought some today and I really don't think I have ever eaten any so want to make sure I am not giving the kids fruit that is not past it.

[Prudie]

No you can't get it off. I love mangoes but they are best when a bit tart not so nice if they've gone a bit mushy. Best just try one.

[sherrardk]

Ok, thank you for your answer. I don't eat fruit really but I like the kids to eat it so tricky to know if the fruit is 'right' or not (got 5 mangos and 3 huge pomegranates).

[woofgang]

peachy soft and they start to smell sweet and delicious. They are lusciously sweet and juicy. Some are more fibrous than others, the variety "Keit" or "Kent" is a less fibrous one than Tommy Atkins, Alfonso is the least fibrous and most juicy.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/mango
the cheeks off hedgehog thing is the easiest way to cut it up, or you can just cut the cheeks off and scoop the flesh out with a spoon. have loads of kitchen roll handy, they are very juicy indeed!

[woofgang]

and here's how to get the seeds out of a pomegranate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b8lxLJQRGA

[boxtops]

Do you know what to do with the pomegranates, sher? They are best just cut in half, then you eat the pips with a cocktail stick, or tip them out over some icecream :-)

[sherrardk]

Thanks for the tip woofgang, I know that that even the pomegranates are really juicy (which used to be horrible dry things when I was a kid) so I expect carnage when it comes to the mangos.

[sherrardk]

Hi Boxtops, we've had these particular sort of pomegranates before. They are huge and ever so juicy (kitchen looks like a murder has been committed when himself hacks one to pieces). We used to eat them with a pin when we were kids, must be a different variety to the ones we had.