Mangos are a sweet, delicious fruit that can be used in so many recipes. However, they can be tricky to cut due to the thick skin and large pit in the center.
Luckily, there are several easy ways to slice and cube mango. Some of these methods involve cutting off the skin, while others resemble the hedgehog technique.
Cut it in half
Mangoes are a tropical fruit with sweet, juicy flesh that can be used to make a variety of dishes. They’re also easy to cut and store for later use like in smoothies or yogurt.
To cut a mango in half, hold it upright on the cutting board and find the tallest side. Align the pit on that line and slice it away with a small paring knife.
Repeat on the other side of the mango and you should have two halves and a middle section around the pit that remains intact.
Now that you have a couple of half pieces of mango, cut long slits lengthwise into the fruit, perpendicular to each other, and score to make slices or cubes. Depending on the use, you can make finer cubes for salsa or larger ones to cook on a kabob or freeze for later use in smoothies.
You can also place the mango slices on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan and freeze them until hard, then transfer to a freezer bag for storage in the freezer. This will keep the fruit fresh for up to five days.
Remove the pit
Mangos are the perfect tropical fruit for a healthy snack or addition to your smoothies, desserts, or fruit salads. But they’re also a bit challenging to cut and peel because of the pit that clings to the flesh, making it difficult to remove.
If you want to save the good, edible portion of the mango, make angled cuts around the pit. This will help you peel the rest of the fruit away.
Once the pit is removed, you can either slice or dice it. If you want to slice, divide the mango into two parts and make lengthwise slices, careful not to cut through the skin.
If you want to dice it, score a grid pattern into the flesh with a knife. Then peel the skin back and pick the pieces off one by one. This technique is known as the “hedgehog method.”
Cut it into cubes
Mangoes are a great addition to salads, smoothies, and fruit platters. They’re also a delicious snack when cut into cubes and refrigerated.
You can also use mangoes in a wide variety of recipes, including ice cream, chutney, and a speedy fruit chaat. You can even freeze sliced mango for up to three months.
When you’re ready to cut a mango, look for one that’s ripe and smooth, without bruises or discoloration. It’s also a good idea to check the pit to ensure it isn’t hard or too large.
To make a first cut, hold the stem side down on your cutting board and slice all the way through the fruit, right next to the seed, on both sides. This will yield two large pieces of fleshy mango.
To make the second cut, turn your mango half over and hold it with both ends. Score the mango flesh by making broad vertical, then horizontal lines in the half of the mango that’s now facing up. This will result in a grid-like pattern of evenly sized cubes that you can easily remove with a knife.
Cut it into slices
Mangoes are easy to cut into perfect chunks, so you can add them to salsas, smoothies or even on top of grilled chicken. They’re also great for freezing, so store them in the fridge to enjoy later on.
To slice mangoes into thin, bite-size pieces, start by cutting each side of the fruit just past the seed (about a 1/4 inch from the center). You’ll need a sharp knife and a clean work area to ensure the flesh doesn’t get dirty or contaminated.
Next, turn the mango half so that the vertical lines you just made are facing you horizontally. With a paring knife, cut the flesh in a grid like pattern without going through the mango skin.
Once the mango has been sliced, you can either turn it inside out and then use a large spoon to detach the flesh from the skin or you can scoop out the cubes using the “hedgehog” method, as shown in the photo below.