Mangoes and Melons Some Tips

Mangoes and Melons
are popular fruit at this time of the year.

There's certainly a wide variety available from the supermarkets and market stalls but how to pick the best ones?

MANGO CRITERIA

are you eating them with a salad or separately?

with seafood or ice cream

The traditional criss cross cut does make it easier to remove the outer skin

I would opt for thin slices if the mango is part of a larger platter or going onto a cheesecake or pavlova

easier to pick up and arrange and looks better too

which ones to buy

don't always go for the biggest

unless you're serving them the same day go for mangos that still have some green on their skins that are firm not hard and if you pick them up they have a faint aroma  of ripeness

MELONS

Whatever the melon variety is whether you're going to juice it or slice it if it has already been gladwrapped cos its been halved or quartered  check the wrap

is it firmly sealed juice with no ooze at the seam
does the melon feel soft or warm?
is there discoloration

if you're getting plain watermelon dont get one that is too pale and totally seedless which will have less flavor but dont go for one thats too red and soft.
Even if you're going to eat it the same day or wait for it to ripen a melon picked too soon will have its skin dry out and be tougher to cut.

Fresco near Woolies seems to the best watermelon supply.

If you're looking for Honey or rockmelon the supply fluctates!

Happy hunting and join me for more tips.

I now have a mobile I can blog from so tips will be appearing more regularly in 2013.