How To Cut Mango

This How to Cut a Mango post is sponsored by the National Mango Board.  All opinions are my own. 

Everything you ever wanted to know about How To cut A Mango, How to Tell if a Mango is Ripe, How to Ripen Mangos, How to Store Mangos and Mango Nutrition

Mangos are a juicy, natural superfruit that can be enjoyed year round but often people shy away because they don’t know How to Cut a Mango.  This post will help you conquer your fears and get you giddy about Mangos!

I am SO excited to be partnering with the National Mango Board to share my love of mangos with you! As I state on my About Page, “Some people escape in dreams of sandy beaches and sunny skies, I escape in dreams of mangos, chipotle peppers and bacon,” AKA mangos are my happy place and I hope they will be yours too if they aren’t already!

Mangos are naturally sweet, juicy and just plain delicious!  I have used mangos in many of my recipes (see Recipes List below), but not as many as I would like because I know many people are intimidated by choosing and cutting mangos.  In fact, while mangos are considered the world’s most popular fruit, a recent survey by the National Mango Board, finds that nearly half of Americans not only don’t know how to cut a fresh, whole mango but they actually consider mangos the toughest fruit to cut.  The same survey showed Americans are more confident in hosting a dinner party than they are cutting a fresh, whole mango and less than half of women surveyed felt like pros when it came to cutting mangos.

I’d like to change all of that!  I want you to feel confident and excited about mangos because they not only taste divine, but they are also a Super fun, Superfruit.  I am going to walk you through everything you need to know about mangos from Mango Nutrition, to How to Tell if a Mango is Ripe, How to Ripen Mangos, How to Store Mangos and How to Cut a Mango.  The information I’m going to share comes from the National Mango Board.  So, let’s talk mangos!

Mango Nutrition

Mangos are the versatile, juicy superfruit you are going to love.  They are guilt free good for you!

• One cup of mangos is just 100 calories, so it’s a satisfyingly sweet treat.
• One cup of mango provides 100% of the daily value for Vitamin C, which plays an important role in immune function.
• One cup of mango is a good source of Vitamin A, which is important for immune function and helps maintain healthy skin.
• Mangos contain over 20 different vitamins and minerals, helping to make them a superfood.
• One cup of mango is rich in folate, which helps maintain cardiovascular function.
• One cup of mango is a good source of fiber, which helps you feel full faster.
• Each serving of mango is fat free, sodium free and cholesterol free.

How to tell if a Mango is Ripe

Mangos are available year-round thanks to the six varieties that have staggered growing seasons in Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Guatemala and Haiti so don’t shy away from eating them in the winter too! Right now, you’ll likely find the delicious Honey, Kent and Tommy Atkins mangos available in your supermarket, offering different mango options for any dish, here’s more information about mango varieties.

• To check for ripeness, focus on FEEL not color because every variety is a different color when ripe. For example, red doesn’t necessarily mean ripe.
• Squeeze gently to judge ripeness. A ripe mango will give slightly, indicating soft flesh inside.
• Use your experience with produce such as peaches or avocados, which also become softer as they ripen.
• Ripe mangos will sometimes have a fruity aroma at their stem ends.

How to Ripen Mangos

• Keep unripe mangos at room temperature. Mangos shouldn’t be refrigerated before they are ripe.
• Mangos will continue to ripen at room temperature, becoming sweeter and softer over several days.
• To speed up ripening, place mangos in a paper bag at room temperature, and store for approximately 2 days or until the mangos are ripe.
• Once ripe, mangos can be moved to the refrigerator to slow down ripening for several days.

How to Store Mangoes

• Once ripe, mangos should be moved to the refrigerator, which will slow down the ripening process.
• Whole, ripe mangos may be stored for up to five days in the refrigerator.
• Mangos can be peeled, cubed and placed in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days or in the freezer for up to six months.

How to Cut Mango

Learning How to Cut a Mango is easy!  There are no real mistakes.  The worst thing that can happen is you accidentally hit the pit, no biggie.  If you hit the pit, then just move your knife further from the center of the mango and cut again.  You got this!

1. First, the basics. Wash your hands and wash the mango.  Always use a clean knife and cutting board to cut a mango.
2. Start by locating the stem. Make sure the step is on top. The long, flat seed runs from stem to nose.  We want to cut around this pit.

3. Once you locate the stem, make a vertical cut 1/4″ away from this midline then make the same cut on the other side.

4. With the mango stabilized on a flat surface, make vertical slices without cutting through the skin. At this point you can use a large spoon to detach the flesh from the skin and scoop out OR…

5. Slice the flesh the other direction without cutting through the skin to create a grid pattern.

6. Use a large spoon to detach the flesh from the skin and scoop out the cubes.

7. Enjoy!

Other Ways to Cut a Mango

• Mango Spears: Peel the mango, slice off the cheeks, and cut the flesh into long, thick spears.
• Peel and Slice: Peel the mango completely, slice off the cheeks, and cut the remaining flesh into desired shapes.
• Mango Balls: Use a melon baller to scoop out small, round balls of mango flesh.

Tips for Cutting Mango

• Choose a Ripe Mango: Ensure the mango is slightly soft to the touch for easier cutting and better flavor.
• Use a Sharp Knife: A sharp knife reduces the risk of slipping and allows for cleaner cuts.
• Stabilize the Mango: Place the mango on a flat surface and hold it firmly to prevent it from rolling while cutting.
• Score Carefully: When scoring the flesh, avoid cutting through the skin to make it easier to scoop out or invert the pieces.
• Handle with Care: The mango can be slippery, so handle it carefully to avoid accidents.

BEST Way to Cut a Mango

The best way to cut a mango for ease and minimal waste is the “Hedgehog Style” method:

1. Choose a Ripe Mango: Ensure it’s slightly soft to the touch for easy cutting and better flavor.
2. Slice Off the Cheeks: Hold the mango upright and cut off the cheeks by slicing along each side of the pit.
3. Score the Flesh: Place the mango cheeks skin-side down and score the flesh in a crisscross pattern without cutting through the skin.
4. Invert the Cheek: Push the skin side up from the bottom to invert the cheek, making the scored cubes pop out.
5. Scoop Out the Cubes: Use a spoon to scoop out the mango cubes directly from the skin.

This method is efficient, reduces waste, and produces neatly cut mango pieces.

MY MANGO RECIPES

I love mangos so much I have used them in sauces, stir fries, salad dressings, dips, chimichurri, smoothies, salads and even desserts.  I hope you enjoy these recipes thanks to the versatile, ever delicious mango!

• Mango Salsa
• Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Mango Salsa
• Chicken in Coconut Mango Verde Sauce
• Chipotle BBQ Chicken Salad with Mangoes and Tomatillo Avocado Ranch
• Aloha Tropical Smoothie
• BBQ Chipotle Chicken Sandwiches with Mango Guacamole
• Honey Lemon Chicken Asparagus Mango Stir Fry
• Poppy Seed Chicken Fruit Salad Lettuce Wraps
• Fiesta Ranch Chicken Burrito Bowls
• Red Curry Beef Tacos with Coconut Crema
• Southwest Orzo Salad with Chipotle Honey Lime Vinaigrette
• Cashew Coconut Chicken Tenders with Mango Honey Dip
• Baja Tuna Melt Cups with Mango Broccoli Slaw
• Chipotle Chicken Salad with Honey Lime Mango Dressing
• Mango Honey Jalapeno Chimichurri
• Coconut Honey Lime Shrimp with Sriracha Mango Dip
• Chipotle Chicken, Mango and Black Bean Enchiladas
• Mango Black Bean Chipotle Chili
• Tropical Cashew Chicken Salad (with Mangos)
• Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwiches
• Shrimp Avocado Salad with Caribbean Vinaigrette
• Mango Coconut Oreo Fudge Creme Ice Box Cake

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