Two Easy Ways to Cut a Mango

The mango. There's something special about this yellow gem of sweet, tangy goodness. 

As a kid, I was obsessed with mangos, asking for them 24/7 -- especially when we traveled to Mexico, which was pretty often back then. Back then, before I knew how to cut a mango, I would always get an uncomfortable reaction on my lips from the mango skin.

It took becoming an adult and learning how to scoop out the flesh of a mango and cut it correctly to avoid that uncomfortable allergic reaction. Thankfully, mangoes are still a huge part of my life, and I can share them with my kids -- who all know how to cut a mango correctly 🙂

You can also imagine how well my 3 Ingredient Mango Sorbet has been received in this household. It's a favorite dessert around here and is so simple.

This post will give you step-by-step instructions on 2 helpful techniques to cut delicious mangos into delicious mango pieces, not gnarled, squished, or mangled.

How To Tell If A Mango Is Ripe

To test a mango for ripeness, all you have to do is squeeze it gently. Emphasis on gently! If the mango is ripe, it will make a slight dent. This shows that the flesh inside has softened. If you don’t see any indentation while pressing on it, it’s most likely not ripe enough to eat. And when it's not ripe...it's sour!

Is There A Pit In A Mango?

Mangos contain an oblong pit right smack dab in the middle. This is actually the seed and what makes them such a challenge to cut...when you don't know what you're doing, that is.

But once you learn to work around this pesky pit, the rest is super easy. The mango flesh on both sides of the pit is called the mango cheek. You’ll get used to cutting mangos after some practice, trust me.

How Do You Cut Mango For A Salad?

When we cut mangos for salads (or even for yummy mango salsa and chutney for chicken) we want them to shine, like the star ingredients they are! To accomplish this, there's a proper way to cut them in the perfect size that maintains their supple (but still slightly firm) texture.

You'll want to cut them into dense squares about an inch thick. I like to make lengthwise and crosswise cuts like you'll see in the images. Start with a sharp knife and the rest is not that difficult. You'll learn how to do this below!

Why Can’t You Eat The Skin of The Mango?

You shouldn't eat the skin of a mango because it contains the compound urushiol. This is the same active chemical you’ll find in poison ivy and poison oak. Okay, yikes. There's also the risk of ingesting any remaining pesticides clinging to the skin.

Some people with highly sensitive skin can get dermatitis just from touching a mango! This is what I suffered from A LOT as a kid. While mangos are generally a safe and edible fruit, stick with eating the inside (the tasty edible part), and you’ll be fine. We just want to avoid the skin side of the fruit.

How To Store Cut Mango? 

Once you have your cut-up mango, I recommend storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I usually eat it within 5 days to make sure I still get that fresh fruit sweetness and flavor.  You can also opt to freeze.

Here's how I recommend freezing your mango slices...

• Use a few resealable plastic bags and store your sliced mango into smoothie size portions (like these Mango Green Smoothie Freezer Packs). All you have to do is to pop a portion in your blender in the morning. A smoothie in minutes, hooray!

• To avoid freezing them into clumps, place your sliced mangos on a parchment paper lined tray, (similar to how I’ve done with these bananas) and then flash freeze them for about an hour.

Once they’ve hardened, you can then transfer the mangos to your preferred container. Easy!

What Is The Best Way To Cut A Mango?

The best way to cut a mango helps you get the most mango for your cut. It's efficient. And, it's safe! Let me help you avoid those knife slips. (You may use a knife that isn’t too sharp if you're more comfortable with that. Something sharp enough to slice through the peel is good.)  

Remember, you want to work with a mango that has gone through the ripening process at room temperature (never try to ripen in the fridge).

Below are two techniques I use to cut up this amazing fruit.

Option #1 Cut A Mango With A Knife And Glass Cup

1. Cut the sides off the mango, working to avoid the large pit in the center.
2. Hold a mango half upright along the rim of a glass cup and align right where the peel meets the skin to the edge of the glass. Slide it down to separate the peel from the mango flesh.
3. You can dice the peeled mango into cubes from here now that the skin has been removed.

Option #2 Cut A Mango With A Knife

1. Cut the sides off the mango, working to avoid the large pit in the center.
2. Use a knife to score cubes into one of the mango halves, but be careful not to cut through the skin.
3. Invert the mango so the cubes separate a bit.
4. Use a small paring knife to cut each cube off the mango peel.

The Middle: How To Cut The Remaining Mango

1. Cut along the middle of the mango (that is left after slicing off the large halves). Cut the flesh away from the pit.
2. Use a paring knife to separate the peel from the flesh, holding it flat on the cutting board.
3. Slice the strips of mango into cubes.

Tasty Mango Recipes

Delicious mangos are full of wonderful things like antioxidants, fiber, vitamins C, A, B6 and more! Talk about daily values in one marvelous fruit. Now that you know how to properly slice the mango, there’s an abundance of dishes and drinks you can try. 

• 3 Ingredient Mango Sorbet
• 6 Best Overnight Oats Recipes
• 5 High Protein Smoothies
• Fruity Spring Rolls With Honey Lime Sauce