6 Easy Ways To Find Out If Your Mangoes Chemical-FreeOne of the best parts about summer is the fact that everyone gets to eat juicy and sweet mangoes. Mangoes are most definitely the king of fruits because of their enticing flavour and luscious texture. In India, one can get different types of mangoes such as alphonso, ataulfo, chausa, and many more. These mangoes are cultivated by farmers in different parts of the country and transported across various regions to satisfy the cravings of people.
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Because of high demand, mango cultivation and selling is a lucrative business. Due to high profit margins, people have started adopting many malpractices in the business that have led to the distribution of chemically ripened mangoes. These mangoes are not at all good for health and one must be mindful while buying mangoes for this very reason.
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What Are Chemically Ripened Mangoes
Chemically ripened mangoes are the type of mangoes that have been ripened with the help of different artificial preservatives and chemicals to speed up the process of fruit ripening. This is done to meet the high demand of mangoes as chemically ripened mangoes take a lot less time to properly grow as compared to natural mangoes. These chemicals also help in increasing the shelf life of the mangoes. Perpetual consumption of fruits that have high amounts of chemicals can lead to a lot of health problems.
Also Read: What is the science of mangoes
Here are six different ways through which one can easily figure out if their mangoes are chemically ripened or not.
* Skin Colour
To check if mangoes have been artificially ripened or not, one can look at the skin colour of the mangoes. Artificially ripened mangoes generally have a more uniform colour as compared to natural mangoes. They may have a colour that ranges between yellow to orange. Due to the presence of multiple chemicals, artificial mangoes may even have a shiny outer coat. On the other hand, natural mangoes are non-uniform and patchy when it comes to their colour.
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* Smell
Another way to check the chemical composition of a mango is to sniff it properly before buying it. Chemically ripened mangoes will likely have a chemical and artificial smell. These mangoes mostly also have a very strange and unpleasant smell. On the other hand, the fragrance of fresh mango that is devoid of any kind of chemicals is very pleasant and fruity. Whenever a mango looks healthy from its surface, but has an unpleasant smell, it means that it is chemically ripened.
* Firmness
Artificially ripened mangoes are generally more soft and mushy compared to natural mangoes. This is because the presence of too many chemicals in the mango leads to the breakage of the cell wall. This can further lead to changes in the composition of mangoes. Naturally ripened mango is generally sturdy and not too soft. It has a perfect balance of softness and intactness. Sometimes a mango might be too old which is why it can become mushy.
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* Too Many Spots
It is pretty common for fruits to have bruises or spots on their surface. However, a mango that has been chemically ripened is going to have too many bruises and spots. A significant amount of external damage means that the mango has been ripened with the help of multiple chemicals that have shown their effects on the skin of the mango. A natural mango is less likely to have spots or bruises on its external surface.
* Taste Test
The best way to analyse if a mango has been chemically infused or not is to taste it before buying it. Mangoes that have high amounts of chemicals generally have an artificial taste that is very often bland. These mangoes do not have the same kind of sweetness that a natural mango has. A lot of times these mangoes also leave a very bitter aftertaste. This is the distinguishing factor of chemically infused mangoes. Any person who has tried natural mangoes would know that they do not leave any bitter aftertaste and have a very pleasant and sweet taste.
* Less Juicy
One of the most pervasive uses of mangoes in India is to make aam panna. A well-ripened and natural mango has a significant amount of juice and can be easily used to make different types of beverages. On the other hand, an artificial mango has minimum to almost negligible juice. Even after squeezing this mango properly, one will not be able to extract any juice. This is a significant way to identify if a mango contains artificial chemicals or not.