How to Eat a Mango

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By eHow Contributing Writer

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Mangoes are a fantastic source of Vitamin C and E, as well as niacin, iron, potassium and beta carotene (which once the body processes it turns into Vitamin A.) Still considered exotic fruit to many Americans, mangoes have not grown in popularity due to their bad reputation as hard to eat. But truthfully, with a little work, you will be well rewarded. Here are tips on how to eat a mango!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

1 Pairing Knife
1 Serrated Knife

Step 1

Select your mango. There are some guidelines to tell if a mango is ripe and ready to eat. The first thing to look for is color. Mangoes are shipped when they aren't quite ripe. So when picking through them at the grocery store, look for a yellowish orange skin you, or even a orangish red color. Next press your finger against the skin of the fruit. It should be slightly soft to the touch. Much like an avocado, if it is hard, it is not ready to eat. Once you find a mango that meets these criteria, select it, as they are ready!
Step 2

Wash the fruit. It's always a good idea to wash the fruit prior to consumption. Even though you will not really be eating the skin, bacteria and other matter can be transferred to your hands. Pat the mango dry with a paper towel.
Step 3

Slice the fruit. Using a serrated knife, slice vertically down the fruit on either side of the pit. (Mangoes can be quite sticky, hopefully this manner of cutting will avoid some of the mess.)
Step 4

Utilize a pairing knife. Then using a pairing knife, slice the meat of the mango away from the skin and dice into edible portions, or however you desire to eat it. Congratulations, you have just learned how to eat a mango!

Comments

mactraks said

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on 11/4/2008 I learned to love mangos on trips to Hawaii, and while they are messy to eat, I've always found them worth the trouble. The paper bag tip is great.