Welcome to How to Cut a Mango 101! Here on Love & Lemons, we have recipes for mango salsa, mango tacos, mango margaritas, and even mango sushi. Suffice it to say, a simple guide on how to cut a mango is way overdue. Cutting a mango isn’t difficult, but if you’re attempting it for the first time, it can be perplexing. Should you peel it first? What shape should the pieces be? And what on earth should you do about that pit? If you’re asking these questions, you’re in the right place! Below, you’ll find my method for how to cut a mango. It’s super simple, and it works like a charm. You’ll end up with sweet, juicy cubes that you can toss into your favorite mango recipes or enjoy all on their own.
How to Cut a Mango
To cut a mango, you’ll need two things: a sharp knife and a cutting board. You’ll also need to make sure that your mango is ripe. It should be fragrant and soft to the touch. Give it a gentle squeeze with one hand – if it feels firm, let it ripen at room temperature for an extra day or two before you cut it. Unripe mango is not only harder to cut; it’s less tasty too. When your mango is ripe, you can get to work!
First, cut off the sides of the mango. Place the fruit flat on the cutting board, with one long, skinny edge facing down. Place your knife across the mango lengthwise, slightly left of the pit in the center. Slice downward to cut the side of the mango off the pit. Repeat the same motion on the other side.
Then, score each mango side. Set the pit aside, and place one of the mango sides skin-side-down on the cutting board. Use your knife to score the mango flesh in a grid pattern, cutting down to the skin but not through it. Use your fingers to invert the skin and flatten it against the cutting board.
Finally, slice off the mango flesh. Use your knife to slice laterally, separating the scored mango cubes from the skin. Repeat the scoring and slicing process with the remaining side. That’s it! At this point, there will still be some flesh around the pit. You won’t be able to dice this part of the mango perfectly, but it still tastes great. Peel off the skin and use a small paring knife to cut the flesh off the pit as best you can. Enjoy it as a snack, or freeze it to blend into a refreshing mango smoothie!
Favorite Mango Recipes
So you learned how to cut a mango…now how do you use it?! Devour it on its own, or add it to any of these mango recipes:
Easy Mango Salsa Mango Margarita Vegan Tacos Spicy Mango & Avocado Tacos Rainbow Orzo Salad Mango Ginger Rice Bowl Overnight Oats Mango Coconut Muffins
