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Slice Like a Chef: Learn How to Cut a Mango Flawlessly


ByAgkidzone Staff
Updated: Aug 22, 2024

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Mangoes, with their sweet, tropical flavor, can elevate any fruit platter, but their soft, juicy nature can make them challenging to handle in the kitchen. If you've ever ended up with a mushy mess instead of neatly sliced mangoes, this detailed guide is for you. Here, we'll walk you through various techniques to peel, pit, and cut mangoes, ensuring they look as delightful as they taste.

Peeling Perfection
Starting with peeling, ripe mangoes can be quite tricky to handle due to their slippery texture. For those who prefer to peel the mango before cutting, using a sharp fruit peeler or a paring knife is recommended. There are also tabletop electric peelers available that can peel a mango efficiently by rotating the fruit while a small blade peels off the skin in seconds. However, many mango enthusiasts find it easier and more practical to slice the mango before peeling the individual sections.
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Mastering the Pit
The pit, or seed, of the mango is large, flat, and notoriously difficult to cut around. To effectively remove the pit, start by placing the mango upright and slicing down along the sides of the seed, creating two large 'cheeks' of mango flesh. You can then make parallel cuts about a centimeter apart from the top of the mango, slicing through to the bottom. This technique allows you to separate the cheeks cleanly, while the central slice containing the seed can be further trimmed to ensure no fruit goes to waste.
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Employing a Mango Slicer
For those aiming for perfect cuts, a mango slicer is an invaluable tool. This device can quickly and cleanly separate the pit from the flesh if positioned correctly. After removing the pit, the remaining mango cheeks can be cut into any desired shape, focusing on aesthetics and uniformity, which is especially useful for decorative fruit platters.
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Strategic Strips
After removing the cheeks, you can cut the flesh into vertical strips for a nice presentation or easier consumption. To do this safely and to prevent the mango from slipping, place a kitchen towel underneath while cutting. To remove the strips from the skin, turn the cheek inside out by pushing the skin upwards, making the strips protrude, and then carefully slice just below the peel to detach each strip.
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The Hedgehog Technique

The hedgehog cut not only looks impressive but is also quite simple to achieve. Make vertical and horizontal cuts across the mango cheek without slicing through the peel. Then, push the skin upwards to invert the cheek, which turns the slices into a striking array of standing mango cubes. This method is particularly effective for buffets or as a fun way to serve mango to kids.

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Peel and Hedgehog Combination
If you’re dealing with a very ripe mango and want to add a creative twist, try the peel and hedgehog combo. Start by making a shallow diagonal cut around the mango cheek and peel it off in a continuous strip. Then, slice the exposed fruit all the way down to the pit in the hedgehog pattern, creating a visually appealing side of the fruit.
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Corn-on-the-Cob Style

This less common but effective method involves using a cob or fruit spikes to hold the mango steady. Insert the cob vertically through the center of the mango, and as you hold it in one hand, use the other to carve vertical slices. This produces thin, even wedges that are easy to peel and serve directly or add to fruit salads.

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Cube Cutting for Convenience

While the hedgehog method allows guests to scoop out mango cubes directly, pre-cutting the cubes can make the experience even more seamless. After creating the hedgehog pattern, use a knife to separate the cubes from the peel by sliding the blade under the protruding cubes and across the peel.

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Elegant Mango Slices

For a more traditional presentation, peel the mango first, then remove the pit and slice the cheeks into thin pieces. This method is perfect for serving with desserts like sticky rice or as part of a sophisticated fruit arrangement.

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Quick Mango Prep for Smoothies

When making smoothies, the aesthetic of your mango cuts is less important. If you're in a hurry, simply peel the mango with your hands if it's ripe enough, then roughly chop the flesh around the pit. This quick and easy method gets the mango into your smoothie without any fuss.

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