Mangoes are sweet, fragrant tropical fruits that are often used in salads and smoothies. But if you’ve never cut a mango before, the task can be pretty intimdating! After all, mangoes have a large, wide pits that are difficult to work around.
The key is to slice the mango in very specific spots. Once you know where to place your knife, you can slice the fruit and enjoy as much of the flesh as possible.
Ready to learn how to cut a mango? Here are three common methods.
Method #1: With a Knife
Place the mango on a cutting board, stem facing away from your knife. Slice off the bottom to create a flat surface.
This will allow you to stand the mango upright, making it safer to cut the mango from top to bottom.
Place the knife along the top of the mango. Slice off the wider side, making sure to avoid the pit. If you feel the pit, shift your knife outward a bit.
Once you slice through, you’ll have one mango “cheek.” Repeat on the other side.
In each cheek, score across the flesh with a paring knife. Slice just until you hit the peel, but don’t cut all the way through.
Repeat in the opposite direction to create a “grid.”
Push the peel upward to separate the pieces. At this point, you can slice off the chunks with a paring knife.
Alternatively, you can scoop out the chunks with a spoon. If some of the pieces are still connected, simply cut them apart.
Pretty easy, right? When scoring the mango, you can make the “grid” as big or as small as you’d like. Bigger pieces would be useful for dishes like fruit kabobs.
Method #2: With a Glass
After you’ve sliced off the bottom and sides, you can also use a glass to peel the mango. Simply dig the edge of a glass into the mango and “scoop” out the flesh.
This option is messier than scoring the flesh, but it’s still a useful trick. Once you’ve removed the flesh, dice it up or throw it in a smoothie.
Method #3: With a Mango Cutter
Another option is to use a mango cutter, also known as a mango splitter. This gadget is handy if you’re looking for a quick and seamless way to cut mangoes. We used this mango slicer, peeler and pit remover tool, which is highly rated on Amazon.
One part of the tool is a mango holder, which prevents it from rolling around. The other half is a mango slicer with serrated blades, which fits perfectly around the pit. After slicing away the mango cheeks, you can peel each one against the bottom portion.
To use a mango slicer, place the mango in the holder, stem side up. Make sure the mango is snug.
Place the slicer on top, making sure the oval center is around the stem. The curved blades should also line up with the wider sides of the mango.
Push downward, gently rocking the slicer back and forth to work it into the mango. Continue until the slicer cuts right through.
From here, you can peel the mango cheeks against the bottom of the holder or score them with a paring knife.
What to Do With Mango Pits
Is your first instinct is to toss the pit? Not so fast. Often, theres a decent amount of flesh left on the pit, whether use a knife or cutter to slice a mango.
First, remove any leftover skin with a peeler or paring knife.
Slice off the remaining flesh around the pit.
When you’ve cut off the leftover flesh, toss the pit in a jug of water. Store it in the refrigerator overnight for a jug of refreshing, mango-infused water!
For more cutting guides, visit our tutorials:
