Seido Skills 101: How to Cut a Mango

Mangoes are delicious, juicy fruits that can be messy to cut. However, you can get beautiful results with minimal mess using the proper techniques and tools, such as a sharp chef’s knife or paring knife. You may be wondering, "what is a paring knife used for?" It's perfect for making smaller cuts, like mango cubes. Here's a breakdown of how to cut a mango into slices or cubes.

Hands holding a mango cheek scored in a crisscross pattern to create cubes over a wooden cutting board.

Key Takeaways

Use a chef's knife or a paring knife. It depends on you, if you want big or small slices.
Use the Acacia End Grain Cutting Board, which has a deep juice channel to catch the juices.
Prep your ripe mango by cutting around the pit with a chef's knife, then score the flesh with a paring knife.
Leave your unripe mangos at room temperature. Store rip mangoes in the fridge.

How to Tell If a Mango Is Ripe

Before you cut your mango, you want to choose a ripe one. To determine if a mango is ripe, very gently squeeze it. It should feel moderately soft because if it’s too soft, it may be overripe. Color is another clue, as mangoes with a yellow or reddish hue are ripe, while green mangoes need some time to ripen.

From Mangoes to Meal Prep: Find the Knife That Does It All

Tools You'll Need

You'll need a couple of tools to cut your mango.

Chef Knife or Paring Knife

For the first cuts, a chef's knife is ideal. When making smaller cuts, like cutting the slices into cubes, switch to a smaller knife, like the paring knife from our Kanpeki Damascus Knife Set. A sharp paring knife will give you a little more control.

A set of four Damascus knives with blue and black handles arranged on a cutting board surrounded by lemon slices and spices.

Cutting Board

Another essential tool is a cutting board. Our Acacia End Grain Cutting Board has a deep juice channel that can catch up to 5 ounces of juice, which is perfect for juicy fruits like mangoes.

An acacia end grain wooden cutting board with a juice groove standing upright on a countertop.

Step-by-Step Guide

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to cut a mango with a knife.

Preparing the Mango

First, wash off any residue or dirt that's on your mango. Then, place it on your cutting board with the stem facing you.

Three ripe yellow mangoes and a kitchen knife on a circular wooden board with a daisy in the background.

Cutting Around the Pit

Using a chef's knife, like our Japanese Gyuto Executive Chef Knife, slice the cheeks off each side of the mango. You can use the paring knife to cut the narrow ends of the flesh off. There may only be half an inch or less on these sides.

A close-up of a hand in a blue nitrile glove slicing a mango vertically with a chef's knife.

Scoring the Flesh

With your paring knife, score the flesh in long stripes. It's a simple step, but it makes getting all the fruit out easier.

Scoring a ripe mango in long slices with a paring knife

Slicing or Dicing

To get the skin off, gently push the skin side of the mango inward so that the flesh pops outward. Now you can slice the diced mango off the skin, giving you perfect slices. Alternatively, you can use a spoon to scoop the fruit out.

Now you have mango spears. You can use the paring knife to cut the slices into cubes.

A Damascus paring knife with a pearlescent handle beside a scored mango.

How to Store a Mango

If your mango is still a little green, leave it at room temperature until it ripens. If your mango is ripe but you aren't ready to eat it yet, store it in your fridge. It should last 4-5 days. You can store the cut cubes or slices in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator. They’re best if used within 5 days of cutting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cutting a Mango

Here are some common mistakes you should avoid when cutting a mango.

Peeling the Mango First

For many fruits, it’s easiest to peel them first. But with mangoes, peeling the thick skin off will leave you with a slippery fruit that's hard to grip.

A person's hands using a small knife to peel the skin off a mango.

Cutting in the Center

Mangoes have wide, shallow pits at their center, so cutting straight down the center means you'll run right into it.

A person slicing a yellow mango vertically on a black cutting board.

Using a Dull Knife

Although mangoes have soft interiors, their skins can be tough. You'll want a sharp chef's knife to make clean cuts. Otherwise, it will only make things messy.

Not Catching All the Juice

Mangoes contain a lot of juice, and cutting into one means you'll have a lot of liquid everywhere. Use a cutting board that can collect the juice, so it doesn't get all over your counter.

Master Mango Cutting With Confidence

Mastering how to confidently cut a mango into cubes or slices doesn't require much skill. All you need is the right tools and a little bit of know-how. Once you cut a few mangoes, you'll feel and look like an expert.

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