If you’ve ever wondered how to cut a mango, you’re not alone. Not only does this tropical fruit have an odd shape, but they can be quite slippery and juicy too! Mangoes come in various shapes and sizes, but are typically oval or kidney-shaped which can leave you wondering about the easiest way to slice into it.

We have step-by-step photos below to show you the easiest way to cut a mango. Plus, we offer tips on how to tell if a mango is ripe as well as other interesting facts about this delicious tropical fruit!

How Can You Tell If A Mango Is Ripe?

So, how can you tell if a mango is ripe? The three things you’re looking for are color, firmness, and scent.

First, look at the color. Ripe mangoes are typically yellow and light peach in color. Some are a soft light orange and slightly red too. Color variations depend on the variety, so the main thing you’re looking for is that it no longer has any green skin.

The second thing you can do to test the ripeness of a mango is squeeze it. Mangoes start out quite hard, but then soften as they ripe. So you should have a little give in the skin if the mango is ripe enough to eat. Just be sure it’s not TOO ripe. But the fruit should still have a little bit of firmness to it. Otherwise it gets mushy and can be difficult to cut.

And finally, smell it! There’s a wonderful sweet scent that comes from a ripe mango if it’s ready to be eaten. Unripe mangos don’t really have a strong scent at all.

Why Can’t I Cut Through A Mango?

Mangos can be tricky to cut. The reason you can’t simply cut a mango in half is because there’s a very large flat seed, or pit, in the middle. The seed takes up quite a bit of the overall size of the fruit, so it’s best to cut around the seed. We’ll show you an easy way to get around the seed and how to cut the fruit so that you get the perfect mango cubes to use in your dessert or recipe.

Is It OK To Eat The Skin Of A Mango?

The skin of a mango is edible! But it’s tough to chew and tastes bitter, so it’s not preferred. Also, some people have an allergic reaction to the sap that might be on the skin. You don’t necessarily have to peel a mango, though, before cutting it. The simple method we have below cuts the fruit away from the skin quite easily. And by scoring the mango skin with a sharp paring knife, you’ll easily be able to cut mango cubes away from the skin.

How To Cut A Mango: Step-By-Step

1 – Wash And Dry Your Mangoes

First, start by washing and drying your mangos before cutting into them. The sap from the tree can be quite sticky, so you want to make sure you rinse this off. If you’re purchasing your mangos from your local grocer, there also might be produce stickers that need to be removed.

2 – Locate The Stem And Seed Shape

Next look at the shape of the fruit and find the stem. The seed is long, so you’ll want to cut along the wide parts of the fruit. This is typically where the skin dimples in to the stem. Cut a small piece away from the bottom of the mango, on the opposite side of the stem. This will help you stand the mango flat on the cutting board.

3 – Cut 1/4 Inch Away From The Stem

Take a sharp knife, and start cutting about 1/4 inch away from the stem along one wide side of the mango. Your knife should glide along parallel to the seed, so you’ll be cutting along the sides of the pit.

4 – Repeat Step 3 On The Opposite Side Of The Mango

Make the same cut, 1/4 inch away from the stem, on the other side of the fruit. This should give you two round sides, or “cheeks.”

5 – Score The Mango Sides Crosswise

Take the tip of a sharp paring knife and score the inside of the mango halves in a cross like pattern. These will end up being your cut “cubes,” which is just an easy way to dice mangoes.

6 – Turn Mango Inside Out And Cut Away From The Skin

Next, put a little pressure on the skin of the mango slice and turn it inside out. Then, while holding the inside out mango in one hand, carefully take your knife and cut the cubes away from the skin.

7 – Repeat The Last Step With The Second Half Of Mango

Repeat the last step, cutting into the second half of the mango crosswise, turning it inside out, and cutting the cubes away from the skin.

That’s it! That’s how to cut a mango in 7 easy steps. At this point, you’ll still have a bit of the fruit along the side. You can carefully cut this away using a smaller knife and it will give you about 3-4 more cubes per side. Although, at home we call this part of the mango the “chef’s share” and just eat it straight from the seed. That way we’re reserving the cubes for things like smoothies and mango salsa, but still get the fun of eating the fruit straight off the seed.

How To Cut A Mango (Step-By-Step Photos)

Yield: Sliced Mango

Prep Time: 1 minute

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 6 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Step-by-step photos for the easiest way to cut a mango.

Materials

Fresh Mangos
Cutting Board
Paper Towels
Bowl

Tools

Chef's Knife
Small Paring Knife

Instructions

Wash And Dry Your Mangoes
First, start by washing and drying your mangos before cutting into them. The sap from the tree can be quite sticky, so you want to make sure you rinse this off. If you're purchasing your mangos from your local grocer, there also might be produce stickers that need to be removed.
Locate The Stem And Seed Shape
Next look at the shape of the fruit and find the stem. The seed is long, so you'll want to cut along the wide parts of the fruit. This is typically where the skin dimples in to the stem.
Cut 1/4 Inch Away From The Stem
Take a sharp knife, and start cutting about 1/4 inch away from the stem along one wide side of the mango. Your knife should glide along parallel to the seed.
Repeat Step 3 On The Opposite Side Of The Mango
Make the same cut, 1/4 inch away from the stem, on the other side of the mango. This should give you two round sides, or "cheeks."
Score The Mango Sides Crosswise
Take the tip of a sharp knife and score the inside of the mango halves in a cross like pattern. These will end up being your cut "cubes" of mango.
Turn Mango Inside Out And Cut Away From The Skin
Next, put a little pressure on the skin of the mango slice and turn it inside out. Then, while holding the inside out mango in one hand, carefully take your knife and cut the cubes away from the skin.
Repeat The Last Step With The Second Half Of Mango
Repeat the last step, cutting into the second half of the mango crosswise, turning it inside out, and cutting the cubes away from the skin.

Notes

That's it! That's how to cut a mango in 7 easy steps. At this point, you'll still have a bit of the fruit along the side. You can carefully cut this away using a smaller knife and it will give you about 3-4 more cubes per side. Although, we call this part of the mango the "chef's share" and just eat it straight from the seed. That way we're reserving the cubes for things like smoothies and mango salsa, but still get the fun of eating the fruit straight off the seed.