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 donโ€™t know How to Cut a Mango.  This post will help you conquer your fears and get you giddy about Mangos!

Showing How to Cut a mango with a mango on white cutting board with cubed cuts

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, โ€œSome people escape in dreams of sandy beaches and sunny skies, I escape in dreams of mangos, chipotle peppers and bacon,โ€ 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 worldโ€™s most popular fruit, a recent survey by the National Mango Board, finds that nearly half of Americans not only donโ€™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.

Iโ€™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 Iโ€™m going to share comes from the National Mango Board.  So, letโ€™s talk mangos!

Showing how to Cut a mango with mango cubes on a white cutting board after cutting


 

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 itโ€™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.
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

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 donโ€™t shy away from eating them in the winter too! Right now, youโ€™ll likely find the delicious Honey, Kent and Tommy Atkins mangos available in your supermarket, offering different mango options for any dish, hereโ€™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 doesnโ€™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.
two servings spoons scooping up fresh mango salsa

How to Ripen Mangos

  • Keep unripe mangos at room temperature. Mangos shouldnโ€™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.
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

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.
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

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.
How to Cut A Mango showing locating stem to cut around it on a white cutting board

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.

How to Cut A Mango showing cutting mango around stem on a white cutting board

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 ORโ€ฆ

How to Cut A Mango showing slicing mango into vertical slices on a white cutting board

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

How to Cut A Mango showing cutting a grid pattern in mango flesh on a white cutting board

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

How to Cut A Mango showing scooping cubes of cut mango out with a spoon
  1. Enjoy!
How to Cut A Mango showing scooping cubes of cut mango out with a spoon

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!

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

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60 Comments

  1. Fred Denno says

    Everything you said helped me a lot
    We have a large tree on the side of the house and the squirrels problem is driving me crazy
    Had to relocate 26 so far
    They take 2 bites and run away

    • Jen says

      That is crazy, I hope you can find a solution! I’m glad though that my post was helpful. Best!

  2. Robin DeGroff says

    Thank you so much on the tutorial for cutting the mango still working on it didn’t do that bad. I cut about 6 ripe ones oh my God they were so good that I actually had to suck the seed I hate to admit it. Living Central Florida so they grow here like crazy a friend of mine gave me half ripe half not ripe so I made the salsa it was delicious looking forward to more.

    • Jen says

      You’re so welcome Robin! I’m so glad you loved your mangos – now there is no going back!

  3. WENDY PARTINGTON says

    can I substitute wild rice for the orzo?

    • Jen says

      Hi Wendy, which recipe are you referring to?

  4. Scott says

    CLEAN hands. Then bust out your peeler and peel the entire mango. It’s very easy as the skin of mangoes is idea for a sharp peeler. Then drop the peeler and grab a sharp knife. You know where the pit is, so cutting the same two oblong sides is simple and getting the remaining flesh off the pit is pretty easy too.

    You waste nothing, it’s fast and you’ve got to wash your hands again anyway.

    • Jen says

      Thanks for the tips Scott!

  5. Squigggle says

    You donโ€™t mention what to do with the remaining flesh on the stone. I gnaw at it. Please donโ€™t waste this bit. So many recipe creators waste so much food. Many thanks

    • Brenda says

      I love mangos. They are delicious and so good for you. I’ve eaten mango salsa but I can’t wait to make my own. I’m sure it won’t last long.

  6. Diana Cook says

    These are truely lovely recipes and I love Mango. I hope to see more of your recipes!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Diana, I hope you love trying them!

  7. Bettye says

    Can’t wait to try some of your recipes!
    PS We live Virginia but have immediate family in Carlsbad.

    • Jen says

      Welcome to my site Bettye, such a small world! I hope you discover many new favorites here!

  8. Angel says

    I love Mango’s and I would love to eat them in different ways besides in a fruit salad I make . But I can’t have or eat spicy food. Is there any recipes for Mango’s that you can recommend? I would love & appreciate it if you could help me with this
    Thank You

    • Jen says

      Hi Angel, there are a lot of suggestions at the bottom of the post or you can search “mango” on the website and lots of recipes will come up. Enjoy!

  9. Antonette Villafuerte says

    You should try Philippines Ripe and unripe mangoes. Honestly it is the best for me.I am just not sure if you are anywhere near a place who sells them. However, I used to live in Daly City just outside San Francisco and there are asian markets who sell them when it is in the season to which is usually mid-March to May in the Philippines because it is summer here that time. You should also try the mango Ice cream of Mitchelโ€™s they are located in San Francisco. They have the best Philippine tasting mango ice cream.

    • Jen says

      Hi Antonette! Sounds delicious – I’ll have to look out for those!

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