This is how I cut a Fresh from Florida mango!

Juicy, sweet, refreshing – a summertime treat. Its mango season in South Florida. It’s June and our mango trees are full of ripe mangoes. The UF/IFAS EDIS publication on mangoes describe the fruit as oval or kidney-shaped, measuring 3-10 inches, fleshy drupe, turns from green to a mix of green, yellow, orange, or red when ripe (Gilman, E., Watson, D., Klein, R., Koeser, A., Hilbert, D., and McLean, D. 2020). The fruit is also described as fragrant. So how do you cut Florida fresh mango?

Everyone I talk to about cutting mangoes has a different way of doing it. I guess the way you cut a mango really depends on how you plan to use it. Personally, I like to cut my mangoes into cubes so I can use them either on a shish kabob or eat with my fingers. If I am in mixed company, I will even use a fork to eat the mango cubes but then I miss out on licking the juice off my fingers.

Best of all, mangoes are nutritious. UF/IFAS EDIS has a document indicating the fruit is a fair source of phosphorus and potassium, and a good source of vitamins A, C, B-6, and E (Crane, J., Wasielewski, J., Balerdi, C., and Maguire, I. 2020).

So here is how I cut a mango.

Wash my mango and hands. I always like to work as clean as possible in the kitchen.
Figure out which way the pit lays in the mango. I cut along the skinny side of the mango so the blade of my knife cuts along the pit. This cuts most of the flesh away from the pit.

Cutting a Mango — Cut a Fresh from Florida Mango. Photo credits: K. Gioeli, UF/IFAS

Tic Tac Toe Mango Cut. Photo Credits: K. Gioeli, UF/IFASI then use a sharp knife to make a tic tac toe pattern. I make sure I do not cut all the way through the skin of the fruit.

I then cut a tic tac toe pattern into the mango flesh using a sharp knife. I make sure I do not cut all the way through the flesh of the fruit to the skin. Then I invert the fruit to get cubes.

mango cubes — Cut the mango flesh into cubes. Photo credits: K. Gioeli, UF/IFAS

Enjoy – Bon Appétit

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The mission of UF/IFAS is to develop knowledge in agricultural, human, and natural resources, and to make that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. Extension programs are open to all persons without regard to race, color, sexual orientation, sex, age, disability, religion, or national origin.

References

Crane, J., Wasielewski, J., Balerdi, C., and Maguire, I. (2020) Mango growing in the Florida home landscape. UF/IFAS EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/MG216

Gilman, E., Watson, D., Klein, R., Koeser, A., Hilbert, D., and McLean, D. (2020) Mangifera indica: Mango. UF/IFAS EDIS. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST404