How to Cut Up a Mango Like a Pro

Mangos are a sweet and nutritious treat during the summer, and a healthy snack at work.  There are two types commonly found in U.S. grocery stores.  The first type is small and yellow, and the second type is larger and can be mulch-colored with green, red, orange or yellow. 

Mango Freshness Test

The freshness test is the same for either type.  You can only tell if a mango is fresh by the feel of it.  It should not be too hard or too soft.  If it is ripe, you can press with your thumb or finger, and it will feel firm, but you will leave an indentation where you pressed, similar to a peach or a nectarine.   A large mango can be totally green, and still be perfectly ripe.

There is also a difference in flavor in the two mangoes.  The smaller, yellow ones tend to be sweeter, but they are harder to find – they are usually sold in Asian or Indian food stores or at farmer’s markets.

How to Cut Up a Mango Like a Pro

You will need:

A sharp knife with a somewhat narrow blade longer than the mango is wide (a steak knife will work fine) 

A mango, any type

A cutting board

Basic Cut

First, place the mango on the cutting board, holding it upright with one hand (like an egg sitting in the carton).  The goal is to cut through the mango as close to the seed as possible. 

Stand it up, the flattest sides to the right and left, perpendicular to the knife. 

Gauge where the center is and begin to cut along the flattest side, from top to bottom about 1/2 inch from the center.  Turn it around and cut the other flat side.  Let those two halves lie on the cutting board. 

Now you have a one-inch slice of mango left, with a big seed in the middle, and skin around it.  Hold it by the seed and begin to cut just under the skin to peel the skin off. 

Then use the knife to slice small pieces off from around the seed until all that is left is the seed.  Put those pieces in a bowl and throw the seed away.  You can now eat the strips of mango meat.

Fancy Cut

If you want smaller pieces, for yourself or to present at a party, take one of the halves, lay it skin side down on the cutting board, and very carefully score the meat of the mango inside the skin into 1/2 inch squares without cutting through the skin.  You want to be careful to cut as close to the skin as you can without cutting through. 

After you score the inside of the fruit into ½ inch squares, take the skin by the outer edges and press it inside out so the mango meat, pops out into cute little squares, still attached to the skin. 

At this point you can either put the mango as is, on a plate for a pretty display; hold it to your mouth and bite the squares off of the skin; or use the knife to cut the squares off into the bowl with the other fruit that you cut from the seed.  Repeat the process for the other half.

Voila!  You are now an expert mango cutter and can show off your skills to your family and friends.   Enjoy!