Mangos and Lychees
Mangos and lychees - their taste lives up to their exotic names. You can find out more about the history of mangoes and lychees in my article. Below are a few tips about storing, preparing, and preserving these two fruits.
When choosing mangos, look for ones with unwrinkled skin that yields to gentle pressure (like a ripe peach). Unripe mangos should ripen within a week at room temperature. Once ripened, mangos can be kept in the refrigerator, but they must be eaten within a couple of days. Also, refrigeration dulls their fragrant scent, so remember to leave them at room temperature for awhile before eating.
Canned lychees are readily available throughout the year; depending on where you live, you may also be able to buy fresh lychees during the summer months when they are in season. Some gourmands claim there is no comparison between fresh and canned lychees. While I wouldn't go that far, there is no doubt that fresh lychees have a stronger flavor, so try them if you can.
When choosing fresh lychees, check for a rosy looking skin. (Unlike mangos, lychees will not ripen further after being harvested). At home, store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator an eat within a week. Before eating, remove the stem and peel off the outer skin, and remember that the shiny brown seed in the middle is also inedible.
Try to freeze lychees as soon as possible after picking. To freeze, wash and place them in containers and seal. Another option is to remove the shells and pack the fruit halves in sugar syrup (about fifty percent) before freezing. Store the lychees for about ten to twelve months.
Wait until mangos are fully ripe to freeze. They should be washed and peeled before freezing, with a slice of the stem end cut off. To pack in syrup, place the fruit in containers and cover with sugar syrup (about thirty to forty percent). To pack mangos in sugar, combine approximately one pound of sugar with eight to ten pounds of fruit. Let the mixture stand until the sugar dissolves and pack in rigid containers. As with lychees, store the mangos for approximately twelve months.
Lychees are a popular dessert, and both mangos and lychees are used in Asian savory dishes.
