Mangoes can be vacuum-sealed to keep them fresh and avoid waste when you have leftovers or want to save them whole.
However, some mistakes you might make when carrying out this process affect the freshness of the fruit.
So, keep reading to find out some other benefits of vacuum sealing your mangoes and the mistakes you should avoid when you want to do so.
How to Vacuum-Seal Your Mangoes at Home? DIY Guide
Vacuum-sealing a mango is like using a vacuum seal for any other food, but with some special considerations.
For example, you must:
- Ensure to cut the mango up before putting it in a vacuum seal. Whole mangoes don’t perform as well with this storage method.
- Avoid blanching your mangoes like a vegetable.
- Never store your mangoes in the same plastic film as any other fruit.
Here’s a short video illustrating how you can vacuum-seal your mango at home in less than two minutes.
9 Benefits of Vacuum-Sealing Your Mangoes
Below are nine benefits of vacuum sealing your mango(es).
Keeps the Mango Fresh
Vacuum sealing prevents moisture, mold, or fungus from growing or coming in contact with your fruit.
Fruits like mango also get soft and spoil quickly when exposed to the atmosphere for an extended period. So, vacuum-sealing and placing your mango in the freezer would help prevent its spoiling by inhibiting the effect of these external factors.
Retains Taste and Flavor
Without any rot-causing factor, the fruit would last longer while retaining its fresh taste and flavor. Vacuum-sealing the mango locks in its original flavor while making it easily accessible anytime.
Prevents Freezer Burn
Freezer burn occurs when moisture is lost from your stored fruit due to the direct blast of the cold air.
When you vacuum seal your mango, the plastic film is a barrier between the mango and air and water crystals from the freezer. Thus, keeping the mango from dehydration.
Lasts Longer Than Regular Freezing
Vacuum-sealed mangoes last longer than regular frozen mangoes since the effect of fungus, mold, and water droplets (which would cause dehydration) has been negated by the presence of the protective film.
Saves Money Via Bulk-Purchasing Mangoes
Since you can now store mangoes for longer this way, you can buy the fruit in bulk to take advantage of bulk discounts. Likewise, you get the extra benefit of having the taste and nutrients locked in. So, you don’t have to deal with less sweet mango when you’re ready to eat it.
Prevents Fruit Wastage
Vacuum sealing helps prevent mango wastage by giving it the proper protection to last longer until you’re ready to consume it. Hence, preventing food wastage.
Avoids Chemical Preservation Techniques
Vacuum sealing prevents the use of chemical preservatives on your fruit since you won’t need to add any preservatives or additives. A plastic film and vacuum sealer are all you need.
Time Saving and Efficient
Vacuum sealing your mango is one of the quickest ways to store it. At the push of a button and in less than 10 seconds, you’d get a fruit package that can last all year long and still maintain its rich flavor and color.
Heightened Fruit Flavor
When you vacuum seal your mangoes, the lack of all other external degrading factors can heighten their flavor since it marinates in their juice. Adding this mango to your dish can help improve its overall flavor.
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Vacuum-Sealing Mangoes
Here are five mistakes to avoid when you want to vacuum seal your mangoes.
Wash to Avoid Bacteria Growth
Before sealing your mango, always wash the skin. Bacteria can stick to the mango’s skin, and if you vacuum-seal without washing, the fruit will start rotting inside the seal.
If the mango is a little squishy, freeze it to toughen the texture a bit. This would allow you to wash it without damaging it.
Seal Bag Properly to Prevent Ripening
The purpose of a vacuum seal is to keep the fruit fresh and prevent it from ripening fast, which would otherwise cause rotting. Thus, ensure the bag is sealed adequately before locking the mango away in your freezer.
Otherwise, external factors will find their way into the bag and reactivate the ripening process.
Not Draining the Water From the Fruit
Always ensure the fruit is dried correctly before sealing. Leaving water in the bag would interfere with the peak condition of the fruit, causing it to go soggy and decay.
You can always wrap the fruit in a clean cloth after washing it or mop it with paper towels to get rid of the water content on its skin.
Storing With Other Fruits
Never seal your mango with any other fruit or vegetable. Sealing multiple fruits with each other might cause them to affect the quality of one another.
Take for example, vacuum sealing a banana will quicken its ripening process. If you pack a banana with a mango, the banana grows soggy, and the ethylene gas released from the banana will affect the mango.
Blanching Mangoes Like a Veggie
Blanching is putting vegetables in hot water for a short time to kill enzymes. If you blanch your mango, it will develop loose skin/soggy insides after cooling.
In other words, blanching your mango before vacuum sealing is almost the same as sealing a rotting fruit. After all, the stored mango would likely spoil from the inside out.
FAQs
Can Bacteria Grow in Vacuum-Sealed Mango?
Some bacteria are known to thrive in air-tight spaces. So, bacteria can grow and affect the storage process if the mango is not adequately sealed or washed/drained before sealing.
May Your Mangoes Last Longer
Vacuum-sealing is likely one of the easiest ways to preserve your mango. However, ensure to follow the proper steps and avoid every mistake in the book to get that savory taste all year long.
