Mangoes add a citrusy, floral flavor to sweet and savory dishes. However, breaking down a mango can be tricky. Once peeled, the slippery fruit can escape your hand (or the cutting surface entirely), resulting in a sticky mess and some near-misses with a sharp knife.
Ingredients
Need to Peel a Mango? Grab a Spoon.
Follow these steps to learn how to peel a mango.
By Published June 12, 2024.
Sure, you could purchase a mango splitter (this one from OXO is the test kitchen’s time-tested favorite), but this simple technique for mess-free mango peeling makes them easier to prep (and eat).
All you need is a spoon.
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How to Tell When a Mango Is Ripe
This method works best with ripe mangoes. Look for soft, but not mushy, fruit that yields to gentle pressure when checking a mango for ripeness. In the case of Ataulfo (“Honey” or “Champagne”) mangoes used to make Khao Niaow Ma Muang, their yellow skin will start to wrinkle and spot.
How to Peel a Mango with a Spoon
Whether you need to dice the fruit for a Mango-Mint Salsa or cook it with warm spices to make a Mango Chutney, simply spooning the mango from the skin to your dish will make peeling a thing of the past.
Before you begin, make sure you have a knife, cutting board, and damp towel handy to keep things from sliding around.
Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Slice
Cut a thin slice from the bottom of the mango so that it will sit flat on the counter. Slice the mango in half along each side of the pit to remove the flesh.
Step 2: Score
Use a knife to slice the mango flesh in a crosshatch pattern, taking care not to cut through the skin of the fruit.
Step 3: Spoon
Hold the scored fruit in your nondominant hand. Use a spoon to scoop the flesh from the skin. (The riper the mango, the easier this will be.) Your mango meat is ready to use!