How to open a mango

Now that you know these methods, you can choose the one that works best for you. Enjoy your meal!

Knife method

If you prefer to use a knife to open the mango, here's how to proceed:

1. Wash the mango: Make sure to wash the mango thoroughly under running water before starting.
2. Cut off the ends: With a sharp knife, cut off both ends of the mango. This will give you a stable base to work on.
3. Position the mango: Hold the mango in a vertical position and rest it on the flat base you created by cutting off the ends.
4. Locate the pit: Run your fingers along the shape of the mango until you find the central area where the pit is located. You will feel a small bump at the center of the fruit.
5. Make a lateral cut: With a sharp knife, make a lateral cut around the pit. Start from the highest point of the mango and gently slide the blade along the curve of the fruit. Do the same on the opposite side.
6. Remove the flesh: Take one of the two pieces of mango obtained from the lateral cut and use the knife to gently remove the flesh from the skin. Repeat on the other side.
7. Cut the flesh: Cut the mango flesh into slices or cubes, depending on your preference.

Remember to be careful when using a knife to open the mango. Make sure the knife is sharp and use slow and precise movements to avoid injuring yourself.

Fork method

Another method for opening a mango is to use a fork. This method is particularly useful if the mango is not yet ripe and the flesh is still hard.

Steps:

• Take a fork and hold it with your dominant hand.
• With your other hand, take the mango and position it so that the stem is facing upwards.
• Place the fork on top of the mango, right next to the stem.
• Gently press down on the fork into the skin of the mango until you feel the central seed.
• Slightly move the fork from side to side to cut through the mango flesh along the central seed.
• Repeat this process on the other side of the mango, always starting from the stem.
• You should now have two halves of mango with flesh still attached to the central seed.
• Using a sharp knife, cut through the flesh from center of central seed in both halves of the mango.
• Then cut the flesh into cubes or slices as desired.

With this method, you can easily get uniform and perfect mango cubes for a fresh fruit salad or dessert.

Hand Method

The hand method is the traditional way to open a mango and requires only a few tools:

• A sharp knife
• A cutting board

Here's how to proceed:

1. Wash the mango: First of all, wash the mango under running water to remove any dirt or pesticides residue.
2. Cut the mango on the sides: Place the mango on the cutting board and, with the sharp knife, cut the sides of the fruit following the contour of the central seed. The seed is long and flat, so you should cut about half of the width of the fruit.
3. Extract the pulp: Take one of the two sides of the mango and make small incisions in the pulp with the blade of the knife, without piercing it. Then, using your fingers, gently push the pulp outwards until it completely turns over. Do the same with the other side of the mango.
4. Remove remaining pulp: With a knife, remove any remaining pulp attached to the central seed. You could also bite into it to avoid wasting any!

The hand method takes a little practice to become fast and precise, but once you have learned the technique, opening a mango will be a breeze!

Useful tips for cutting a mango

Here are some useful tips for cutting a mango easily and quickly:

• Choose the right mango: Choose a ripe mango, but not too soft. A ripe mango will have skin that darkens and becomes softer.
• Wash it well: Wash the mango under cold running water and gently rub it with your hands to remove any dirt or wax residue.
• Find the position of the seed: The mango seed is flat and wide. Find it by feeling the oval shape inside the fruit.
• Cut along the seed: Use a sharp knife to cut the mango in half, following the contour of the seed.
• Remove the pulp: Use a spoon to remove the pulp from the shell, being careful not to damage it.
• Cut the pulp: Cut the pulp into cubes or slices, as you prefer.

Remember that cutting a mango takes practice and patience. Follow these tips and you'll be able to cut a perfect mango every time!

Conclusions

Opening a mango may seem difficult, but with the right technique and tools, it can be done easily. Here's a summary of key steps to open a mango:

• Choose the right mango: make sure to choose a ripe mango with smooth skin and no dents.
• Wash the mango: before cutting it, wash it thoroughly under running water.

Remember that there are different varieties of mango, so you may need to adapt the opening technique based on the type of fruit you have chosen. Additionally, if you don't feel confident in opening a mango by yourself, ask for help or watch some online tutorials for more information on how to do it.

Opening a mango may seem intimidating, but once you have learned the right technique, it will be a breeze. Bon appétit!