How to Peel and Slice a Mango
Mangoes, like many unfamiliar tropical fruits, can be difficult to peel and prepare. The simplest way to prepare a mango is to cut it first and then peel. The most common way to open a mango is known as the "hedgehog style," which allows for easy eating of the mango with little mess. The hedgehog method creates perfect mango cubes and utilizes as much of the flesh as possible. There really is no right or wrong way to peel and cut a mango: as long as you can get the flesh off and enjoy it, your mission is accomplished! Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cubes
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1
Cut the large cheeks from either side of the stone. There is a large stone at the center of a mango with the large portions of flesh resting on the flat sides of the stone. Start the cut near the stem and slowly carve down as close to the stone as possible. Repeat on the other side.
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2
Score between four to five horizontal and vertical lines into the fruit inside each cheek. The scores should reach only as deep as the peel. Do not cut through the peel, the mango flesh should still be connected to the peel.
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3
Invert the cheek by holding it in both hands with the thumbs to the front and fingers at the back. Press your fingers forward to "pop out" the mango cubes into a fan. This is known as "hedgehog" style because the mango cubes fan out yet are still attached to the peel. Repeat with the other cheek.
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4
Slice the cubes off of the peel using a sharp knife. Run the knife parallel to the peel and the cubes will pop off. Place a bowl under your hands to catch the falling cubes. You can also simply eat the cubes straight off of the peel.
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5
Remove the peel from the leftover smaller sides still remaining on the mango stone. Use a paring knife or other small sharp knife and remove the skin as if peeling an apple. Cut the mango flesh in one long strip as close to the stone as possible. Repeat on the other side.
Slices
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6
Peel the skin off of the mango in strips using a paring knife. Peeling the skin of a mango is similar to peeling most other vegetables or fruits such as potatoes or apples. Make a small cut in the skin at the top or stem of the mango and slice down using your thumb as a guide. Try to remain as close to the peel as possible to remove as little mango flesh as possible.
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Cut the large cheeks off of the mango. The largest cheeks are found on the flats sides of the large stone pit. Place the knife on one side of the stem and slowly cut down as close to the stone as possible. Your knife may scrape alongside the stone but it cannot cut into it.
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Slice of the portions of mango flesh still attached to the stone on the smaller sides and discard the stone. Cut each large cheek into slices.
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References
- Photo Credit grapes and mango image by Sean Wallace-Jones from Fotolia.com
