Is cutting a mango one of those kitchen tasks that makes you feel uneasy? Mangos are a juicy and delicious treat to enjoy any time of year...if you know how to prepare it.
If the thought of cutting a mango has you running past the tropical fruit section at the grocery store, don’t despair. Read on to find out the best way to cut a mango and enjoy the pleasures of this sweet, refreshing fruit.
Before you cut your mango, you need to make sure the one you purchase is ripe. Unripe mangos are rock hard and difficult to cut. Plus, they don’t taste as sweet!
To test if a mango is ripe, gently squeeze it. It should feel slightly soft like a peach. A hard mango isn’t ripe, and a mushy mango is overripe. You can also test it by smelling the mango near the stem. Ripe mangos will smell super sweet and fruity.
If you’ve already purchased a mango that isn’t ripe, place it in a paper bag and seal it tightly. Store it at room temperature and check daily until the mango has softened slightly.
Once the mango has ripened, it’s time to cut it! The easiest way to cut a mango is to start by eliminating the pit, which is large, flat, and oblong. If you imagine the mango as a head, the meat you want is in the “cheeks” of the fruit.
Start by placing the mango on a cutting board and cutting off the curved sides or “cheeks” with a sharp knife, leaving the pit in the middle.
Then, using a small paring knife remove any pieces of mango that are left clinging to the pit. Once you’ve removed the fruit, discard the pit.
To slice a mango, take one of the halves of mango you sliced off and lay it skin side down on a cutting board. Using your knife, cut long, vertical lines into the meat without cutting through to the skin.
Using a metal spoon, scoop out the meat from the inside, leaving the skin behind.
To cube a mango, take one of the mango “cheeks” and lay it skin side down on the cutting board. Using your knife, cut horizontal lines into the meat without cutting through to the skin. Do the same with vertical cuts, creating a grid pattern.
Using a metal spoon, remove the skin from the mango by scooping out the meat from the inside.
Mango is a juicy and delicious fruit that is tasty to eat on its own or as a flavorful ingredient in smoothies, salsa or tacos. Here are some delicious mango recipes you can make at home:
