How do you tell when a mango is just right to buy?

I know, I know I am too old for this question.  When I first tried fresh mango I just LOVED it.  Juicy, sweet and soft.  It was at someone's house I don't remember who and when. Any who hey, every since then I have bought a mango tree and it's never ripe or just right?

What is the trick?  HELP!  I have bought them and thought they felt too hard to the touch and waited until it was soft and then found it was too soft. Yes, I googled but google and Siri was no help LOL

Thanks for your suggestions!  Would love to have some.  BTW, I tried frozen and it just didn't cut it .

Per the culinary expert of the house , he says mangos are like avocados and peaches, the softer they get the riper they are.  And, ripe mangos will have a fruity smell at the stem.  If one falls off your tree, but it still intact, put it in a paper bag to ripen.  

Nik

The smell one is a good idea...thanks

I find that when you smell the stem end it will give off a citrus smell and the riper it gets the more of the smell you will have. The other way to tell if it is getting ripe(r) is when the flesh "gives" slightly when you press it as it does with a peach. If my most recent purchase is not real ripe I just put it with other ripening fruit like oranges or bananas and they give off gases to ripen the mango.

Thanks Nikki,

I had not heard of the smell test and thank the expert  I am going to try this!

There are also different varieties of mango, some are sweeter and have more tender flesh. My favorite was the Ataulfos mango. They are sometimes known as honey or champagne mangoes. Sadly, I can no longer eat them. ( dump city ) They are smaller, sweeter and more tender than the bigger green/red variety. 

If you find one variety lacking, you may be able to find another type. 

Mango!

Thanks Audrey,

I had given up and saw a notice in the grocer add for red ones and it get me thinking about them again.  Didn't realize there were so many.

Damn. I would have bet money this thread was going to be the start of a joke when I opened it.

"A mango, a priest, and a rabbi walk into a bar . . . "

I started with "Mango Tango" playing in my head.  Oh, wait...

I love mangoes too.  I just wait until they are softer.  That usually works for a lot of fruit, although bananas seem to have the smallest window of opportunity for best texture.  And come to think of it, that doesn't work at all with apples.  But then, we are comparing apples and mangoes.  

So yeah, wait till they get a little soft, and cut them up.  If they still aren't ripe enough, give them another day or so.  

Thanks Bill,

I have to keep trying