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    Home » How-to

    How to: Cut a Mango

    Published: Mar 26, 2011 · Modified: Sep 5, 2021 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 51 Comments

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    How to: Cut a Mango Tutorial

    The people have spoken. Last week, in my weekly addition to the How-To section, I demonstrated How to: Cut an Avocado. The comments were positive (thank you), but there seemed to be a quiet chant, gradually increasing in volume, from the readers. "Mango...MANGO...MANGO". As I said, the people were speaking, loud and clear. In an attempt to avoid a mob scene, I went to the store the next day to buy some mangoes.

    And who could blame them?! They are fantastic in recipes such a grilled mahi mahi (with mango salsa), mango salsa with shrimp and a fresh mango fruit salad.

    I used to have a heck of a time cutting mangoes. That darn flat pit baffled me and I often found myself staring at a pile of mangled mango slices, and I would then spend a frustratingly long time cutting the skin off of the fruit. That is, until I learned the hedgehog method.

    How to do it:

    Mangoes have flat-ish, oblong pits. If you look at the left-hand picture below, try to picture how the pit would lie in the fruit. Turn the mango the other way (center). You will be slicing off the left and right sides of the mango.

    Sit the mango on its stem, hold firmly, and slice the left and right sides of the fruit away from the pit. These are known as the cheeks of the mango. Awww.

    How to: Cut a mango Collage 1a

    Working with one cheek at a time, make vertical cuts across the fruit (left), taking care to cut to the skin, but not through it. Repeat the cuts in the other direction (right).

    How to: Cut a Mango Collage 2

    This is the fun part. Place your thumbs on the outside of the fruit and push it inside out. It should look like a little hedgehog. Who knew the mango was such an adorable fruit?

    HowtoMango7

    With a paring knife, carefully cut between the skin and the fruit to cut off the cubes. Each mango yields approximately one cup of mango pieces.

    HowtoMango8

    Easier than you thought, right?

    Of course, if you have a six-year old in the house that can't get enough of fresh fruit and veggies, hand those mango peels over to him to make sure none of that juice is wasted.

    TrevMango

    Recipe using mango:

    Cookin' Canuck's Grilled Mahi Mahi with Mango, Red Pepper & Lime Salsa
    Cookin' Canuck's Mango & Lime Sorbet
    Rasa Malaysia's Mango Lassi
    Kalyn's Kitchen's Mango Salad with Black Beans, Avocado & Chili-Lime Vinaigrette
    Smitten Kitchen's Mango Slaw with Cashews & Mint

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Heidi @foodiecrush

        July 15, 2013 at 8:11 am

        I need to follow your lead on this one, mine never come out right. Great tut.

        Reply
      2. bridget

        May 28, 2012 at 11:03 am

        I actually use my potato peeler to remove the outer skin and then proceeded to cut the sides away from the pit. It worked pretty well.

        Reply
        • Dara (Cookin' Canuck)

          May 29, 2012 at 4:25 pm

          Bridget, a peeler definitely work, too. For myself, I find that is a little more difficult because the mango is so slippery once the peel is removed and I'm certain it's going to slip as I'm trying to slice it.

          Reply
      3. Kaitlyn

        July 20, 2011 at 2:36 pm

        Haha, maybe I should have looked at this BEFORE cutting the mango. I ended up with, just like you said, a pile of mangled mango pieces to feed to my 2-year old cousin. I don't think he minded very much though!

        Thanks for the great tutorial, I'll have remember this for next time

        Reply
      4. Lynne@ 365 Days of Baking

        May 01, 2011 at 12:01 pm

        Dara,
        GREAT step by step instructions. Thank you! I'm always having such a hard time cutting those buggers up.
        My 17 year old daughter cut one the other day using a different method and she did it perfectly. I have NO idea where she learned it - obviously wasn't from me!

        Reply
      5. Kay N.

        April 09, 2011 at 3:52 pm

        I love a good ripe sweet mango. However, too many times when I buy them in the grocery store they are dark inside. Unfortunately I don't live where they grow. If they are good and ripe they don't need any sugar and have the best flavor!!

        Reply
      6. Kimberly Anderson

        April 02, 2011 at 2:50 pm

        This post has changed my life!!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!

        Reply
      7. Shelby

        April 01, 2011 at 4:14 am

        my favorite part is eating the mango! lol. This is how I cut it too - love mangos!

        Reply
      8. SMITH BITES

        March 30, 2011 at 5:20 pm

        OMG Dara - that last photo just kills me - LOVE IT!!!

        Reply
      9. Pretty. Good. Food.

        March 30, 2011 at 12:18 am

        Ugh, I feel like I have issues when it comes to cutting a mango correctly. It never seems to come out properly. I am giving your instructions a try. Thanks for including such great photos for those of us who are... mangochallenged 😉

        Reply
      10. Evan @swEEts

        March 28, 2011 at 8:44 pm

        You made that look a lot easier than I do when I have mango all over the counter and my hands! Thanks 🙂

        Reply
      11. Marla

        March 28, 2011 at 7:46 pm

        Now this is a very helpful post. I love mangos, but I am a disaster cutting into these bad boys. I will try this technique and see if I end up with some pretty slices. Sounds easy enough. I think.

        Reply
      12. Tracy

        March 28, 2011 at 6:23 pm

        Great tutorial; so helpful!

        Reply
      13. Denise @ Creative Kitchen

        March 28, 2011 at 6:13 pm

        Love the visual step by step of this! Mangos are something we eat alot around here....even in our green smoothies!! I usually just kinda wing it, so this is perfect. Thanks!! 🙂

        Reply
      14. Aggie

        March 28, 2011 at 3:09 pm

        I always love your tutorials, they are so helpful for so many people. I seriously love mango. If you like kale try Aarti's Party Kale & Mango salad...so good!!

        Reply
      15. Lindsey @ Gingerbread Bagels

        March 28, 2011 at 1:56 pm

        I always have the hardest time cutting a mango. Thank you sooo much for the instructions and photos. Your son is too cute with the mango peel! 🙂

        Reply
      16. Marly

        March 28, 2011 at 12:39 pm

        Thanks so much for this tutorial - especially as mango season draws ever closer!

        Reply
      17. Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.

        March 28, 2011 at 1:10 pm

        I love your steps and tutorials!

        Reply
      18. Amanda

        March 28, 2011 at 12:51 pm

        LOVE your step-by-steps Dara! So helpful!

        Reply
      19. Sommer@ASpicyPerspective

        March 28, 2011 at 11:04 am

        Oooo! I like to sprinkle them with cayenne and sugar!

        Reply
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