Last updated on October 14th, 2023
Here’s how to freeze mango so you always have slices or chunks on hand for easy smoothies and snacks. Next time you find a mountain of mangoes at an unbeatable price, go ahead and load up your basket with as many as you can handle. Whatever mango doesn’t get eaten right away can be frozen at the peak of ripeness to use another time. Keep reading for how to freeze mango, plus, what to do with frozen mango, including our favorite frozen mango smoothie recipe!
How To Freeze Mango
Wash and Dry the Mangoes
Depending on where you live, your mangoes might have traveled far distances and passed through several hands before they came to you. Rinse them with cool water and then pat them dry before you go on.
Cut the Mangoes
Mangoes have a large, flat seed inside. Our goal is to remove as much flesh from the pit as possible. From using knives to spoons to glasses, peeling now or later, or even slicing vertically or horizontally, there are countless ways to prep mango. Today we’ll cut the cheeks from the pit and then remove the flesh from the peel.
First, stand the fruit on end, stem-side up. The two bulging sides are the cheeks. Slice these off, and then remove the remaining sides of the mango. Salvage as much of the fruit from the pit as you can. The scrappy pieces might not look picture perfect, but they’re great for smoothies and purées.
Working with the narrow sides of the mango, use a knife to score the fruit to the skin, without cutting all the way through, to create cubes that you can cut from the peel.
From here, you have a choice of how to prep the cheeks.
The first option uses the above cube method by scoring the cheeks both horizontally and vertically (or you could get fancy and cut on diagonals to make diamonds). Create a cute mango hedge hogs by pushing up the back of the cheeks to turn them inside out, and then slice the pieces from the peel. You could also leave the cheeks right side in and use a spoon to scoop out the mango chunks.
Another option is to slice the cheeks into strips and then remove the skin. This is where some people use a cup to peel the mango slices, but a paring knife works well too. Freeze these pieces in strips or chop them into chunks, it’s up to you.
Freeze the Mango
Find a baking sheet large enough to fit the mango slices or chunks, but compact enough to fit in the freezer; a half- or quarter sheet should fit. Place the mango pieces in a single layer on a sheet, and then set the sheet in the freezer. It will take about an hour or two for the mango to freeze.
How Do You Store Mangoes in the Freezer?
The best container for storing mangoes in the freezer is freezer-safe glass with an airtight lid.
How Long Do Mangoes Last in the Freezer?
Kept at 0°F, you can safely store mangoes in the freezer indefinitely. Use frozen mango within a year for the best texture.
What To Do with Frozen Mango
Our Favorite Frozen Mango Smoothie Recipe
Right now this is our favorite mango smoothie recipe. It makes 1 adult serving or 2 child-sized servings.
In the small cup of a high-speed blender, add ½ cup frozen mango pieces, 1 small ripe banana, and ½ cup plain Greek yogurt. Top with 1 TBSP ground flax seed, and finish with water to the fill line. Blend until smooth. For an even creamier smoothie use frozen bananas and add a little less water (you might need a spoon for this!).
Snacks and Desserts Made with Frozen Mango
Cool down with frozen mango pieces on a hot day. If they’re too hard, thaw them a little so no one hurts their teeth.
Dip frozen mango strips into yogurt for a healthy snack.
Pack it in a lunch container. The mango will thaw but will still be delicious when it’s time to eat.
• 4-5 frozen bananas (equivalent in strips)
Prepare a food processor with the S blade. Place frozen mango chunks and banana strips in the processor bowl and secure the lid. Blend ingredients until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
Serve immediately for a soft-serve ice cream consistency. To make it more firm, pop the mixture into the freezer and serve later. (If the nice cream is unyielding when you try to scoop it out, allow it to thaw on the counter for a few minutes before serving.)
How To Freeze Mango
Ingredients
- 2 mangoes
Directions
- Wash and dry the mangoes.
- Cut mangoes into slices or cubes.
- Arrange mango pieces in a single layer on a sheet pan.
- Place pan in the freezer and allow the mango to freeze for 1 to 2 hours.
- Remove pan from the freezer. Transfer mango to a freezer-safe container with an air-tight lid and store in the freezer for up to a year.
I love this! Mango is one of my son’s and my absolute favorites, and would you believe I’ve never thought to freeze it? Can’t wait to try it- come on mango sales!! You are knowledgeable, so creative and your descriptions are the absolute best— “cute mango hedgehogs”?— I literally giggled aloud at this and my 3 year old will be just delighted 😉
Thank you for your comment, Sarah! 🦔 Hope your LO enjoys the frozen mangoes!