How to Slice a Mango: Your Ultimate Guide

With mango season in full swing on the West Coast and just starting on the East Coast, there's no better time to enjoy these golden fruits at their peak. From making fresh mango salsa to pairing them with sticky rice, or even devouring them straight from the sink as my grandmother taught me, now is the ideal moment to head to your local market for this tropical treat.

While mangos are undeniably delicious, they can be tricky to cut. They're not as easy to peel as bananas or as simple to slice as apples. Growing up in South Florida with mango trees in my backyard, I've picked up a variety of techniques for cutting and enjoying mangos. Now, I'm sharing three foolproof methods for cutting mangoes, ensuring perfect pieces every time for your next mango-filled snack.

How to Get Your Mango Ready for Cutting

Before enjoying your mango, it's essential to ensure it's properly prepared and fully ripe. There's nothing more disappointing than biting into a mango only to find it's not quite ripe yet. To check if your mango is ready to eat, look for a sweet fragrance, a slight softness when gently squeezed, or a lack of green on the skin (depending on the variety). Once you've confirmed it's ripe, remember to wash the fruit thoroughly before cutting. This is crucial, as germs from the skin can transfer to the flesh when you slice it.

How to Cut a Mango Into Perfect Cubes

If you're making a fruit salad or just prefer your mango in chunks, I recommend using a knife and a spoon. Mangos have large seeds at the center, and this method involves cutting around the pit. If you're new to cutting mangoes, the seed runs along the stem and extends to the opposite end of the fruit.

1. Start by cutting about ¼-inch from the stem on both sides, then slice straight down to separate the two halves of the mango, leaving the pit behind.
2. Next, make horizontal and vertical cuts into each half without piercing the skin, creating a grid pattern.
3. Now you can either flip the mango inside-out to enjoy the chunks directly from the skin, as I did when I was younger, or use a spoon to scoop out the perfectly diced pieces.

How to Slice a Mango Perfectly

For perfect mango slices, whether to eat as-is or pair with sticky rice and desserts, a vegetable peeler is the secret, according to my grandmother.

1. To begin slicing, peel the skin off the mango, just like you would with a potato, until you reveal the vibrant yellow-orange flesh.
2. Next, locate the pit, which runs from the stem to the base, and carefully slice along the sides to remove the two mango halves.
3. Then, cut the mango horizontally for longer slices or vertically for shorter ones, adjusting to your desired size and shape.

How to Cut a Mango in One Simple Step

I've been enjoying mangos since before I even knew how to read or write, so I thought I had the whole cutting and eating process mastered. That is, until I saw a TikTok from @Bretmanrock demonstrating an incredibly clever way to slice a mango for a no-mess, casual snack. The trick is to place the mango on its side, then use a knife to make a 360-degree cut, leaving you with two halves. After that, simply scoop out the flesh with a spoon, no mess, no fuss.

Since discovering this method, I've been cutting my mangos this way and plan to keep doing so all summer long.