Mangoes are one of the most delicious fruits. With this fruit’s sweet and tangy flavor, juicy texture, and vibrant color, learning how to eat a mango is worth mastering.
Since mango fruit has an irregular shape, people think eating them is difficult. This article will provide step-by-step instructions to help you enjoy a fresh mango to its fullest.
The mango is a juicy, tropical fruit native to South Asia. Today, people cultivate it in many other parts of the world.
This fruit belongs to the family Anacardiaceae, which experts also call the Sumac family. This plant family also includes cashews, pistachios, and, of course, sumac.
Also known as Mangifera indica, the mangoes come in various shapes, sizes, and colors. Mangoes can be round, oval, or kidney-shaped. They can also be small, medium, or large.
The skin of unripe mangoes is typically green. Once the fruit ripens, its skin usually turns yellow. However, some varieties can turn orange or red when ripe.
The taste of a ripe mango is juicy and sweet; it has a slightly fibrous texture. Aside from having a delicious taste, mangoes are also highly nutritious.
They contain vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Mangoes are a good source of vitamins A, B, C, and K. This tropical fruit also has fiber, potassium, and folate.
The skin of the mango is edible but does not taste good. For this reason, it is common to discard the mango peels.
Just by looking at the mango, you’ll get that feeling that peeling it may seem daunting. Still, you can do it easily and efficiently with the right technique.
Before peeling the mango, wash it with running water to remove dirt and debris. Examine the fruit for bruises and tiny holes as well.
You may also peel a mango using a knife. Some mango juice would flow from the fruit, so peeling it near the sink is best for easier cleanup.
Here’s how to peel a mango using a knife:
You have another option if you’re worried about peeling away too much of the fruit’s flesh while using a knife – use a vegetable peeler to peel the mango.
Here’s how:
Depending on your preference, you can cut mangoes with or without their skin. If you prefer to cut them peeled, use the guide above to peel the ripe mangoes first.
On the other hand, if you prefer to cut it with the skin still on, you just have to wash it before cutting.
Here are the steps to cut a mango that you have already peeled:
Cutting the mango with its skin still on is sometimes easier. The flesh of the mango is slippery, so cutting it with the skin prevents it from slipping out of your grip.
Here’s how to cut an unpeeled mango:
Mango is a versatile fruit you can serve and eat in many ways. Here are the top ways to eat a mango:
One of the simplest ways to eat a mango is to eat it fresh. Cut it into slices or cubes and enjoy the fruit as a snack or dessert.
Mango is a great addition to salads. It can add sweetness and a tropical flavor to your classic salad recipe.
Slice or cube the mango and toss it with your mixed greens. You can also add it to a fruit salad for an exquisite sweet treat.
Mango is among the most common ingredients in a smoothie. When blended, the mango becomes a thick and creamy puree, giving your smoothie a great texture.
On top of that, its naturally sweet taste means you don’t have to add any sweetener to your drink.
Mango is a perfect ingredient for sorbets, ice cream, pies, and cakes.
If you’re not comfortable baking with mangoes due to their high moisture content, you can use mango slices as a dessert topping instead.
Mango is so versatile you can even grill it. The easiest way to grill a mango is to cut it with its skin still on. Place the cheeks flesh down on the grill and grill until they get grill marks.
Top with ice cream and serve. If you want a savory dish, drizzle the grilled mango with lime or lemon juice and sprinkle salt and chile powder instead.
Mango chutney is a popular condiment, especially in Indian cuisine.
To make it, you must combine mango chunks with spices, vinegar, and sugar. Serve the chutney as a dip, or use it as a spread and enjoy!
Mango salsas are a tasty and colorful side dish to grilled fish or chicken. Combine diced mango with chili peppers, red onion, cilantro, and lime juice for a quick zesty salsa.
No, you are not supposed to eat the skin of the mango. The mango skin is bitter, tough, and fibrous. It is best to cut it off and only eat the flesh inside, which is sweet and juicy.
Yes, you can bite into a mango, but there are better ways to eat it. Directly biting the mango means biting its bitter skin, which is not a great experience. It is better to peel the mango before eating it.
No, you cannot eat a whole mango. The mango skin is tough and bitter, and the seed is hard and inedible. The best part of the fruit is the mango flesh, so discard the peels and the seed before eating it.
Mangoes are one of the most nutritious and delicious tropical fruits. However, choosing a ripe mango is crucial for the best taste and texture. You can eat mangoes fresh or use them in a wide variety of dishes. After all, this tropical fruit works from salads and smoothies to curries and desserts.
You can also grill the mango or add it to salsas and chutneys. The possibilities on how to eat a mango are endless, so you can get creative and discover other mango recipes as you go.
