Learn How to Easily Cut a Mango

Learning how to cut a mango will change your life. Knowing how to cut around that pesky seed in the middle to get at that delicious tropical fruit inside makes preparing them much easier.

In addition to aiding in the ease of cutting this delicious fruit, using these steps also makes the process safer.

For this mango cutting technique, you’ll need a sharp utility knife with a pointed tip, like Cutco’s Trimmer. You’ll also need a cutting board and kitchen towel.

Because mangos vary in shape and can be wobbly, it’s best to start by making a small leveling cut at the bottom of the mango so it sits securely on the cutting board. With the mango sitting flat and upright, guide your knife down along one side, just off center of the mango, slowly slicing down and around the seed. Remove that half and do the same on the other side of the mango, so you have two halves.

Lay a folded towel in your non-cutting hand and cup one half of the mango in that hand, skin-side down on top of the towel to protect your hand while cutting. Using the sharp point of the knife, make slices down but not through the fruit both vertically and horizontally, creating a patchwork.

Now…the fun part. Using your hands, flex the fruit to turn the cut mango half inside out. You could just start eating the chunks of fruit right from the skin, but if you’re making a salad or salsa, cut the mango cubes from the skin into a bowl.

Fresh mangos are delicious on their own but they’re really quite versatile. Try them in fruit salad, diced up in salsa, on top of shortcake or skewered and grilled with shish kabob.

Watch this video to learn how to cut a mango from our friend, personal chef and culinary instructor Lynn Novo.

How to Cut a Mango

1. Using a Trimmer, make a leveling cut on the bottom of the mango on the wide end.
2. Stand the mango flat and upright on the cutting board.
3. Starting just off-center make a cut from top to bottom, following along the seed.
4. Place a folded kitchen towel in your non-cutting hand and hold the mango half skin-side down.
5. Use the tip of your knife to cut through flesh, but not through the skin, lengthwise and then make cross cuts to create a patchwork.
6. Using your hands, flex the skin to turn it inside out, so the cubes of mango pop out.
7. Use the Trimmer to trim the cubes away from the skin.