Cutting a mango isn’t difficult, but if you’re attempting it for the first time, it can be perplexing. Here’s an easy, tried-and-true method for how to cut a mango from start to finish.

The delicious sweet flesh can be sliced or diced and enjoyed as a stand-alone snack or added to various recipes like mango salsa or a Grilled Mahi-Mahi dinner.

The best way to cut a mango is to use one that is ripe, but still firm. Otherwise, the mango ends up being mushy and difficult to cut. A few tips:

• Never choose a mango based on its color alone.
• When choosing a ripe mango, simply give it a gentle squeeze. If it gives slightly, it should be ripe enough to slice for your recipes.
• Smell the mango’s stem. If it’s ripe, you’ll notice a fruity, almost tropical smell.
• Unless you’re making a smoothie, sorbet, or jam, avoid using mangos that are extremely soft.

If you have mangoes that you want to ripen faster, you can put them in a brown paper bag and store them at room temperature. The ethane gas released from the fruit will help them ripen faster. To speed up the ripening process even more, add a banana or apple to the bag.

Pro tip: Never refrigerate unripe mangoes because they won’t continue to ripen in the chilly temperatures of the fridge.

To the contrary, if you want to increase their shelf-life once they’re ripe, you can refrigerate them whole.

Refrigerate your freshly cut mango in an airtight container or zip-seal bag (squeeze out any excess air) for 3-5 days.

To freeze fresh cut mango, evenly spread the pieces out on a baking sheet that’s lined with parchment paper. Place the baking sheet in the freezer for a few hours until the pieces are firm. This is called flash freezing and prevents the chunks of mango from freezing together in one big brick of ice. After the pieces are frozen, quickly transfer them to a freezer-friendly bag or airtight container and store them in the freezer for up to 4 months.

• Easy Salmon Poke Bowl (with Mango + Spicy Mayo)
• Skinny Mango Mojitos
• Grilled Mango and Mahi Mahi
• Pineapple Mango Salsa
• Grilled Mahi Tacos with Pineapple Mango Salsa
• Mango and Black Bean Quinoa Salad
• Strawberry Mango Oatmeal

• On top of grilled chicken.
• Frozen mango: in smoothies, as fruity ice cubes or just as a cool summer treat!

We hope you love this tutorial on how to cut a mango! If you try it, be sure to leave a comment so we know how it went.

Enjoy,
Pam & Kalie