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    $5 Dinners | Budget Recipes, Meal Plans, Freezer Meals

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    How to Choose and Cut a Mango

    March 4, 2009 by Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom 43 Comments

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    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    I am often afraid of trying new produce because I’m not sure what it should look like when ripe. This, however, is not the case with mangoes. I have lots of experience with mangoes. We had a tree in the neighboring yard when we lived in the Dominican Republic. They can be super delicious, when picked at the right time and eaten at the right time. I will say I have had only 2 good mangoes since returning to the US. One just last week.
    How to Choose a Ripe Mango
    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Press your thumb into the skin of the mango. If it “indents easily,” as you can sorta see below my thumb, then it is ready to be eaten.  The softer the mango, the more ripe!

    How to Cut a Mango

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Slice the bottom off as close to the skin as you can….

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Allowing the mango to stand on its own on the cutting board!

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Slice around the edges from top to bottom in 1 inch slices.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Slice all the way around…

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Leaving just the green top!

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Lay the mango on it side and cut off the green top.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Look closely and you’ll see a small white spot in the middle of the mango. It’s below the green skin, sorta in the middle of the glare! That is the seed and will give you an indication….
    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Of where to place your knife so that you can slice off a large piece of “mango meat” in one slice.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Slicing off the mango as close to the seed as possible. Feel around with the knife and go along the edge of the seed.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Do the same for the other side of the seed and cut off a second large piece of mango.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    There is a smaller section of mango left on each side of the seed. Cut along the seed and slice off the smaller sections of mango.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Cut along the last side of the seed.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Here is what you are left with. 2 large mango sections and 2 smaller mango pieces.

    how to choose and cut mango $5 dinners

    Dice mango into bite size (or smaller) pieces. It’s ready to be munched on or thrown into your favorite recipe!

    Not sure what to do with the seed. Give it to your kiddos and let them eat off the rest of the mango from the seed. Beware: Juicy mango seeds make a MESS!

    Erin's Favorite Mango Recipes

    Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Mango-Black Bean Salsa

    A super inexpensive, filling and perfectly sweet dinner!

    Grilled Pomegranate Chicken with Mango BBQ Sauce

    Delicious smoky and slightly sweet grilled chicken dinner!

    Black Beans with Mango & Cilantro

    A sweet spin on beans!

    Slow Cooker Mango Chicken Recipe

    Photo Credit: www.onedishdinners.co

    Colorful and tasty!

    Mango Smoothie

    A sunshine-y smoothie to brighten your day!

    Orange, Mango, Banana Dessert Smoothies

    Dessert...but packed full of fruit!

    Summer Fruit Kebabs with Honey and Coconut

    The perfect Summer snack for the picnic or by the pool!

    See more $5 Dinners Cooking Tutorials here

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    Filed Under: How To Cook Tagged With: Cooking Tutorial Cutting

    Comments

    1. Stacy says

      March 4, 2009 at 6:38 pm

      Thanks! I have always made a mess when I cut mine. I will have to look out for mangoes the next time I am at the market!

      Reply
    2. rachete says

      March 4, 2009 at 7:25 pm

      I like your blog!

      http://globalartblog.blogspot.com/

      Reply
    3. Jennifer says

      March 4, 2009 at 7:51 pm

      I looked for a youtube video to illustrate, but I wanted to let you know how Alton Brown cuts a mango…. Like you he slices off the bottom to aid in cutting stability and peels like you do then he sticks a corn cob holder in the end to be a handle ! You can even nibble on the leftover ‘seed’ as a treat! Just sharing a little alton love 🙂

      Reply
    4. Katie says

      March 4, 2009 at 7:51 pm

      Do you know when they are in season? I never pay attention to things like that, I just wait for the prices to drop. In past years I have been able to get mangoes 3 for a $1, but it seems like it’s been an awfully long time since I’ve seen such a good deal. It’s more like 1 for $1! Am I just impatient? We LOVE mangoes at our house!

      Reply
    5. Space Mountain Man says

      March 4, 2009 at 8:18 pm

      That’s a lot of pictures.

      Reply
    6. Jennifer says

      March 4, 2009 at 8:32 pm

      I really appreciate this article! We have tried a few mangos and I had no idea how to tell when they were ripe and peeling and cutting were nightmares. Now I will be more willing to buy another one.

      Reply
    7. Tina says

      March 4, 2009 at 8:37 pm

      Great blog and congrats on being blog of note for 3/4!

      Reply
    8. The Dadman Diaries says

      March 4, 2009 at 9:02 pm

      This just brought back so many memories of neighborhood “Mango Fights” growing up in Hawaii! (Imagine a very messy Hawaiian water ballon fight)

      Also reminded me of how we learned to eat a juicey Mango – Slice downward close to the seed and dice the mango-meat without cutting throught the skin. Push the skin inward, “popping” the exposed diced mango into easy-to-eat cubes, still attached to the skin.

      Thanks for the smile and the delicious site,

      thedadmandiaries.blogspot

      Reply
    9. $5 Dinner Mom says

      March 4, 2009 at 9:17 pm

      Dadman Diaries! That is indeed the best way to eat off the mango! Thanks for sharing 🙂

      Erin

      Reply
    10. Anuan1671 says

      March 4, 2009 at 9:33 pm

      Congrats on being a blog of note and thanks for the great memories of mango’s. I am originally from Antigua (Caribbean) and every July we celebrate a mango festival, eat every kind of mango you evr wanted. Also mango juice, mango hot sauce, mango ice cream, pie…..The big mango seeds are good to give teething babies to chew on….but just be watchful. Cows also like to eat the seeds. tooodles……!

      Reply
    11. C. Beth says

      March 4, 2009 at 9:38 pm

      What a fabulous blog! Congrats on Blog of Note status! I’ll be adding you to my blog roll here. (I also blog here, where I had the Blog of Note thrillride a few months back.)

      Reply
    12. JOSEPH GELB says

      March 4, 2009 at 10:14 pm

      mangos are good food

      Reply
    13. Emz says

      March 4, 2009 at 10:39 pm

      Congrats on blog of note! and omgosh I love mangoes.. WHY DONT THEY HAVE MANGOS IN THE MIDWEST????

      Reply
    14. B.F. says

      March 4, 2009 at 11:06 pm

      Great site. Now I will no longer mangle my mangoes.

      Reply
    15. Bonnie Bonsai says

      March 4, 2009 at 11:35 pm

      This is how I slice a ripe mango.

      Wash the fruit and wipe dry. Without peeling the skin, cut each side leaving the seed on its own.

      Cut the meat diagonally and scoop the meat with a spoon directly to eat or whatever you do with it. Discard the peeling of course.

      As to the seed, that’s when I peel the skin off and eat it clean except I don’t ingest the seed. Smile. I can leave the seed alone, dry it for planting. But my area is not suitble to grow a mango tree.

      You can make a smoothie by placing it in a blender and add milk and bit of sugar if you so desire. If you opt for flavouring, you can put a little vanilla.

      Cheers!

      Reply
    16. Holiday Queen says

      March 4, 2009 at 11:47 pm

      Looks like Martha Stewart may have some competition.

      Reply
    17. Bonnie Bonsai says

      March 5, 2009 at 12:04 am

      From gather dot com, I found this helpful link as well that you might get interested with. See if you like. I just happen to grow up in a tropical country that's why I am so familiar with mangoes: all varieties though I do not exactly know all their names, except Mango.

      Anyway, here's the link:
      http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474976910508&nav=MyGather#comments

      Reply
    18. Money Funk says

      March 5, 2009 at 12:13 am

      LOL! thanks for the mango cutting tutorial. I always seem to get the too ripe ones and its a real mess to cut.

      Definitely gonna give this a try. 🙂

      Reply
    19. edy says

      March 5, 2009 at 12:21 am

      very useful.. i have always been wondering how to cut mango into bite size

      Reply
    20. SPORTS SHORTS - Original Videos from Pete Handelman says

      March 5, 2009 at 3:58 am

      Niely done. I like the Ataulfo Mano

      Reply
    21. Gareng says

      March 5, 2009 at 4:06 am

      How to cut the small one ….???

      Reply
    22. Dagadu Djokdja says

      March 5, 2009 at 4:09 am

      mmmm…. yummi …

      Reply
    23. :p says

      March 5, 2009 at 4:48 am

      http://www.letthereber0ck.blogspot.com

      Reply
    24. charmine says

      March 5, 2009 at 5:34 am

      HI,back here in india some of us prefer to wash the mango skin and eat it as you lose vitamins when you peel it.love mangos,your right, lots can be done with mangos.Try mashing it with sugar and freezing in moulds and voila you have icecream.

      Reply
    25. Anuan1671 says

      March 5, 2009 at 5:55 am

      In the Caribbean, we also use the green ones; peel the skins, chop finely, add salt, black pepper, and hot sauce. Eat with crackers as a savory side dish.

      Reply
    26. Arcadia says

      March 5, 2009 at 6:23 am

      Hi, I like your blog a lot.
      It’s awesome what you can do with only 5$.
      Thank you for sharing recipes with us!

      Visit my blog Arcadia

      Reply
    27. kim-free personal ads says

      March 22, 2009 at 11:36 am

      Your post looks really interesting. I love mangoes and I usually just spoon them off after slicing. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
    28. Alex says

      March 24, 2009 at 8:34 am

      Something to consider when eating a mango: if you are allergic to poison ivy/oak, be careful! Apparently there’s something in/on the skin of mangoes that is similar (I think in the same family) as poison ivy/oak. I have a friend who got a horrible case of poison ivy from a mango. He didn’t know that you don’t eat the skin and took a big bite out of the mango. It wasn’t until his face swelled that he looked into it and discovered this unfortunate information.

      Reply
    29. michelle says

      March 31, 2009 at 6:43 am

      Awesome! Now can you do a similar post for avocados? 🙂

      Reply
      • Erin says

        March 31, 2009 at 10:31 am

        Michelle! I was going to take photos TODAY for avocados!!! Thanks for asking…will post it soon 🙂

        Erin

        Reply
    30. Karen Hiebert says

      March 28, 2011 at 4:03 pm

      yum~ how do you keep it from slipping? Im clumsy and am afraid of cutting my fingers off. 🙁

      Also is there a way to “Subscribe” to a comment section so i can see other response?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Mindy says

        June 18, 2013 at 7:07 am

        Don’t peel it first! Simply cut it off either side of the seed like shown with the peel still on. Then slice or dice the flesh in the peel, without cutting the peel, with a small knife. Then scoop it out with a spoon. Then peel off the ribbon of peel still around the seed with your small knife. Either cut the bigger chunks off the seed or eat them off, your choice. Unless you are cutting a half dozen in a row, You’ll be mostly holing onto the dry skin. much less slippage. My step-grandma is from the Phillipines, and that’s how they do it over there.

        Reply
    31. Coupon Clipping Claire says

      July 30, 2011 at 9:34 pm

      I wish I ha read this last week when I cut up a mango. I did a terrible job. But I found out my boys like it.

      Reply
    32. grace says

      November 12, 2011 at 11:20 am

      Does the same go for a Jamaican Mango cz it’s look’s a littel difrent then the one in the pic and it’s a littel biger and i can’t tell if it’s ripe or not?

      Reply
    33. Chelsea says

      September 4, 2012 at 8:03 pm

      Yeah I just bought a mango and it’s not very soft (they didn’t have much selection) is it possible to wait for it to soften or does that happen on the tree?

      Reply
    34. Bess says

      July 13, 2014 at 10:48 pm

      In order to cope in the fast-paced market, new applications are required.
      You can run your home-based business perfectly in the event you become cordial towards the customers.
      Birthdays, Anniversaries, Housewarmings, Weddings,
      Baby Showers, Christmas and Valentines Day.

      Reply
    35. Susan says

      August 16, 2014 at 2:39 pm

      Put the “cleaned” mango seeds in the bottom of a crock pot and place a pork roast on top. Adds a wonderful sweetness to pulled pork sandwiches.

      Reply
    36. Jennifer Carney says

      August 17, 2014 at 11:39 am

      hey yall! Just wanted to share something that I would think would be extra helpful . I sell Pampered chef, and we have an awesome mango wedger!! You can check it out here… and here is the link to order. http://new.pamperedchef.com/pws/jennifercarney/shop/Cook%27s+Tools/Mango+Wedger/2418 Thanks yall! 🙂

      Reply
    37. Flossie says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:08 am

      Hi there, I desire to subscribe for this webpage to
      obtain most recent updates, therefore where can i do
      it please help.

      Reply
    38. Julie says

      June 26, 2016 at 12:13 am

      I saw a video in which you slice the mango in half, then use the rim of a drinking glass to peel it…sliding the fruit into the glass and the peel down the outside of the glass. I’ve been doing it that way ever since. Whichever way you slice it (pun intended), mangoes are delicious!

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Lake Country Saver » Blog Archive » How to choose and cut a mango says:
      March 26, 2009 at 12:42 pm

      […] when I found this post about how to choose and cut a mango at the wonderful $5 Dinners, I thought I would share. Cutting […]

      Reply
    2. Slow Cooker Mango Chicken | One Dish Dinners says:
      September 11, 2011 at 4:01 pm

      […] How to Choose and Cut a Mango […]

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    3. Shrimp Mango Curry Recipe | Recipes | One Dish Dinners says:
      November 20, 2011 at 5:02 pm

      […] powder 1 tsp ground ginger 3/4 to 1 pound shrimp, with or without tails, cooked or raw 1 mango, peeled, seeded and diced Salt and pepper to […]

      Reply

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    I’m Erin Chase…

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    $5 Dinner Mom.

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