Mangoes are delicious fruits that can be enjoyed in many ways. You can eat them fresh and make them into smoothies, salads, salsas, desserts, and more. But before you can enjoy a mango’s sweet and juicy flesh, you must know how to cut it properly.
Cutting a mango can be tricky because of the large and flat pit that runs through the centre of the fruit. If you don’t cut around the pit correctly, you may waste much of the edible flesh or make a mess.
In this blog post, I will show you how to cut a mango like a pro in four easy steps. You will need a cutting board, a sharp knife, and a ripe mango. Let’s get started!
Step 1: Wash and dry the mango
The first thing you need to do is to wash and dry the mango. This will remove any dirt or pesticides that may be on the skin. You can use cool running water and gently rub the mango with your hands or a clean vegetable brush.
Then, pat it dry with a paper towel or a cloth. You don’t need to peel the mango before cutting it; the skin will help you hold the fruit and prevent it from slipping.
Step 2: Cut off the mango cheeks
The next step is to cut off the mango cheeks, the two fleshy sides of the mango that curve outwards. The mango pit is about 3/4 of an inch thick in the middle of the fruit. You want to cut as close to the pit as possible without cutting into it.
To do this, hold the mango upright on the cutting board, with the stem facing up. Then, use a sharp knife to slice down one side of the mango, just to the right or left of the centre.
Repeat on the other side of the mango. You should end up with two mango cheeks and a middle section that contains the pit.
Step 3: Score the Mango Flesh
The third step is to score the mango flesh, which means to make shallow cuts on the surface of the fruit. This will make it easier to remove the flesh from the skin later.
Hold one of the mango cheeks to score the mango with the skin facing down. Then, use the tip of a knife to make lengthwise and crosswise cuts on the flesh, creating a grid pattern.
Be careful not to cut through the skin, as you may hurt yourself. You can make the cuts as close or as far apart as you like, depending on how big or small you want the mango pieces to be. Repeat with the other mango cheek.
Step 4: Scoop out the Mango Cubes
The final step is to scoop out the mango cubes from the skin. You can use a spoon, a knife, or your fingers to do this. One way is to turn the mango cheek inside so the flesh pops out like a hedgehog.
Then, use a spoon or a knife to trim the mango cubes from the skin. Another way is to use a knife or your fingers to peel off the skin from the flesh and then cut or break off the mango cubes.
You can also use a glass or a cup to scoop out the mango flesh from the skin by pressing the rim of the glass against the mango and sliding it down.
Whichever way you choose, you should end up with a bowl of mango cubes that are ready to eat or use in your favourite recipes.
Cut Around the Pit
If you don’t want to waste mango flesh, you can cut around the pit and get some extra pieces. To do this, lay the middle section of the mango flat on the cutting board and use a knife to trim around the pit.
You can also peel off the skin and cut off flesh from the pit. You may not get perfect cubes, but you will get some extra bites of mango goodness.
Conclusion
Cutting a mango doesn’t have to be complicated or messy. Following these four simple steps, you can slice a mango like a pro and enjoy the delicious fruit in many ways.
Mangoes are rich in vitamin C, fibre, antioxidants, and other nutrients that are good for your health.
They are also sweet, juicy, and refreshing, making them a perfect snack or dessert. Try cutting a mango today and see how easy and fun it is.
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