HOW TO CUT A MANGO: Cut the sweet, delicious flesh from a mango without any stress! Learn how to easily cut a mango with step-by-step instructions, as well as a short instructional video.
Say buh-bye to avoiding mangoes just because you don’t know how to cut them, my friends. The pit of a mango has an awkward and misunderstood shape, making it an intimidating fruit to cut into. I spent years scratching my head every time one of these succulent fruits found itself upon my counter. I decided to finally sit down and get to know the mango because it is a delicious, juicy little food that should not be avoided. This post details my favorite way to cut into a mango in order to get your hands on as much of the edible parts as possible.
Watch this short video for a tutorial about how to cut a mango!
Enjoy the step-by-step video tutorial we have created for this recipe! Our goal is to make your time in the kitchen as easy as possible and to ensure that your version of this recipe is a success. See our full collection of cooking and baking videos on YouTube!
How To Tell if a Mango is Ripe
There is nothing worse than arriving at the grocery store and not knowing how to pick the best fruit. There isn’t always time to wait for fruit to ripen, am I right? There are two simple ways to know if you are selecting a mango that’s ripe and ready to enjoy immediately. First, mangoes that are ready to eat will have a stronger aroma than ones that aren’t quite ready, especially near the stem (closest to where it was plucked from the tree). Also, when you give the mango a gentle squeeze, you will be able to feel it give a little underneath your fingers. If it is rock solid, it is not ready. If it is mushy, it is too ripe. If it gives just a little bit under the pressure of your touch, it is ready to eat! The more you do this, the better you’ll get at determining when the succulent fruit is ready for consumption!
How To Ripen a Mango
If you see mangoes on sale at your local grocery, pick some up and let them finish the ripening process at home. Be sure to store them at room temperature, preferably in an enclosed, dark paper bag. Refrigerating them will slow down the ripening process, so keep them on the counter for best results.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS: HOW TO CUT A MANGO
STEP 1 – REMOVE BASE
Cut the base (the end with the stem) off the mango. This will allow you to situate the mango on its end for easy cutting.
STEP 2 – STAND UPRIGHT
Stand the mango up on its flat base that you’ve just removed.
STEP 3 – REMOVE MANGO “CHEEKS”
The fullest, fleshiest sides of the mango are called the “cheeks.” Starting from the top of the mango, cut down the mango, angling slightly around the pit, to remove the cheeks. It helps to understand the basic shape of the pit so you can most easily cut around it. The pit is oblong and flat, somewhat like a disc. If your knife hits friction while cutting you have likely run into the pit. Redirect your knife so that it cuts around the pit.
STEP 4 – REMOVE SIDES
Now cut down the sides of the mango, doing your best to avoid the pit and remove as much of the flesh as possible.
STEP 5 – SCORE THE FLESH
Use a sharp knife to score cross-hatched lines into the flesh of the cheeks. Be sure not to cut through the mango skin while you do this.
STEP 6 – INVERT MANGO
Invert the sides of the mango to make the flesh pop out, revealing fun little squares.
STEP 7 – SCOOP OUT FLESH
Once the flesh has been inverted, it should be easy to pull or scoop out the mango chunks with your fingers or with the side of a spoon. If the flesh doesn’t easily pull away from the skin, use a paring knife to carefully cut it away.
STEP 8 – REMOVE FLESH FROM SIDES
Using a knife, cut away the flesh from the sides of the mango skin. Chop or slice the mango pieces.
STEP 9 – CUT AWAY REMAINING FLESH FROM PIT
Stand the mango on its end and use a knife to cut down around the pit, removing as much additional flesh as possible. Chop or slice it, as desired.
DELICIOUS USES FOR MANGOES
Now it’s time to enjoy the juicy fruit! Here are a few ways to enjoy mangoes:
Enjoy them as a healthy snack, simply chopped or sliced!
Toss them into your next batch of guacamole! This Mango Crab Guacamole is a yummy option.
Throw chopped mango into your next batch of salsa.
Finely chop a mango and add it to your next Superfood Salad or fruit salad.
Add chopped mango to your next smoothie!
Use mangoes as an ingredient in your next batch of chutney or butter.
However you decide to enjoy this delicious fruit, I hope you become comfortable cutting into it! Thanks so much for being here!
How To Cut A Mango
Equipment
- 1 Very Sharp Knife
Materials
- 1 mango ripe
Instructions
Step 1 – Remove Base
- Cut the base (the end with the stem) off the mango. This will allow you to situate the mango on its end for easy cutting.
Step 2 – Stand Mango Upright
- Stand the mango up on its flat base that you’ve just removed.
Step 3 – Remove Mango "Cheeks"
- The fullest, fleshiest sides of the mango are called the “cheeks.” Starting from the top of the mango, cut down the mango, angling slightly around the pit, to remove the cheeks. It helps to understand the basic shape of the pit so you can most easily cut around it. The pit is oblong and flat, somewhat like a disc. If your knife hits friction while cutting you have likely run into the pit. Redirect your knife so that it cuts around the pit.
Step 4 – Remove Sides
- Now cut down the sides of the mango, doing your best to avoid the pit and remove as much of the flesh as possible.
Step 5 – Score The Flesh
- Use a sharp knife to score cross-hatched lines into the flesh of the cheeks. Be sure not to cut through the mango skin while you do this.
Step 6 – Invert Mango
- Invert the sides of the mango to make the flesh pop out, revealing fun little squares.
Step 7 – Scoop Out Flesh
- Once the flesh has been inverted, it should be easy to pull or scoop out the mango chunks with your fingers or with the side of a spoon. If the flesh doesn’t easily pull away from the skin, use a paring knife to carefully cut it away.
Step 8 – Remove Flesh From Sides
- Using a knife, cut away the flesh from the sides of the mango skin. Chop or slice the mango pieces.
Step 9 – Cut Away Remaining Flesh From Pit
- Stand the mango on its end and use a knife to cut down around the pit, removing as much additional flesh as possible. Chop or slice it, as desired.
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