How to properly cut and peel a mango with a pit—is it edible?

Trees

Many exotic fruit lovers consider the mango to be the juiciest, sweetest, and most delicious fruit native to India. Its popularity stems from the fact that it's not only delicious but also healthy. Mangoes contain a large amount of fiber, various vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and organic acids.

Eating it can strengthen your immune system, stabilize your nervous system and digestive tract, and even help you lose weight. Choosing the right mango at the store is crucial. Pay particular attention to the softness, color, and condition of the skin. The most delicious part is the flesh, but to get to it, you need to peel the mango, remove the pit, and cut it properly to avoid turning the ripe fruit into mush.

How to properly peel a mango with a pit

Only the pulp is eaten, but first the fruit must be peeled. The peel can be red, green, or sometimes purple. It is quite tough and dense, so it is not eaten. It also contains an oily substance that can be toxic to humans and cause allergic reactions. This is why some people experience redness and itching of the hands when peeling the fruit. To avoid this, wear gloves.

In some cases, you can leave the mango peeled; you can simply slice it and eat it without the peel. If you need to peel the whole fruit, there are several options. First, you need to determine its ripeness.

A ripe, but not overripe, fruit can be easily peeled with a regular kitchen knife, like a potato. To do this, peel the skin thinly to avoid removing too much of the pulp. Some home cooks also recommend using a potato peeler.

If the mango has very soft flesh, these methods won't work, as the fruit can easily be crushed. In such cases, use a knife to make a cross-shaped cut on one side of the elongated part. After this, the skin can be completely removed by hand. Those who don't want to get their hands dirty can use a knife, piercing the skin and pulling it downwards.

If the fruit was cut in half and needs to be peeled, you need to take a wide glass and carefully, turning the pulp inside the glass, thread the fruit onto the wall of the glass.

Methods for extracting mango seeds

After peeling the fruit, the hardest part lies ahead: removing the pit from the flesh. However, this process can be made quick and easy with a few tips and recommendations. The pit is white, flat, and elongated, located in the very center of the fruit. To avoid getting dirty while removing the pit, remove it over a plate to catch all the juice.

With a spoon

For this method, you'll need a tablespoon. This method will only remove the pit from a ripe mango, so choose a soft, ripe one.

Cut the mango in half along the axis with a sharp knife. There's no need to peel the skin first, as the fruit will be slippery and difficult to hold, and it will also release a lot of juice. Take one half of the fruit and gently squeeze it. With the other hand, take a tablespoon and insert it into the flesh under the pit, gradually lifting it up to remove it. It's very important not to grab too much flesh.

With a glass

Using this method, the skin is removed later, as the soft flesh of the fruit can be crushed by hand. This method is only suitable for ripe mangoes, from which the pit is very easy to remove. First, select a ripe mango and cut it lengthwise with a sharp kitchen knife, touching the pit.

The cut fruit is separated into two halves—one with the pulp and one without. To remove the pulp, you can use a glass or goblet. So, hold the half of the fruit with the pulp inside the glass in one hand, and hold the glass with the other. Begin by skewering the fruit onto the glass and lowering it downwards. In this method, the glass is used instead of a spoon or spatula.

With a rotating motion

This method is only used on ripe mangoes. It must be done slowly and carefully to avoid damaging too much of the pulp and ruining the fruit. It's also best to perform the procedure over a plate to avoid getting juice on yourself. The ripe fruit is carefully cut lengthwise, reaching the pit.

After this, grasp the halves with your hands and twist one against the other. Then separate the halves. Any pit remaining in one of the halves must be removed with a spoon. This method should be used with an unpeeled mango, as a peeled one will be slippery and too soft.

How to cut a mango

It's important not only to know how to peel a mango, but also how to cut it beautifully for serving. The fruit can be eaten like a regular apple, but for festive table settings, it's essential to know how to present it beautifully.

With a bone

This fruit can be cut into small, attractive cubes. To do this, first wash the fruit thoroughly. There's no need to peel the mango beforehand, as this method won't work. Place the washed fruit on a cutting board, holding it firmly with one hand. Using your other hand, use a sharp kitchen knife, preferably a serrated one, to cut the fruit lengthwise into three pieces.

The center section with the bone should be the thinnest, while the convex sides, called cheeks, should be 2-3 cm thick. Try to preserve as much flesh as possible near the sides, as they are the tastiest. After this, take a side section and carefully use a small kitchen knife to draw longitudinal and transverse lines, creating squares with sides measuring 1 cm.

Care must be taken not to damage the skin, as this will make it impossible to separate it from the flesh. Press the side of the fruit against the skin, bending the flesh outward. Then, carefully cut the squares off at the base, trying to capture as much of the flesh as possible without damaging the skin. Next, peel the skin off the pitted part. You can use a knife for this, or you can peel it off by hand, as it peels off easily on a ripe fruit. Then, cut the remaining flesh into cubes, avoiding the pit.

The second method involves cutting into wedges. Care must be taken when using this method, as the fruit is very slippery and can easily cut you. First, peel the fruit, but do not cut it in half. Then, hold the fruit firmly with one hand and, with the other, cut thin, long wedges around the pit using a small kitchen knife. It's best to do this over a container to prevent juice from dripping onto your clothes.

Pitted

To cut a pitted mango, you can use the methods mentioned above. Dicing the fruit will be much easier, as you'll need to separate the fruit into two halves, cut out cubes from the flesh, and carefully cut them away without cutting into the skin. If you're creative, you can substitute diamonds, rectangles, and other shapes for the cubes.

You can also cut the fruit into wedges. You can peel the fruit first, or you can leave it unpeeled, depending on how you're serving it. Cutting the fruit into wedges will be easier because the pit won't get in the way, and the wedges will be smoother and more attractive.

Alternatively, you can peel the fruit, cut it in half and slice it into thin strips.

If you need to slice the fruit for salads or pierce it with a fork, it's best to cut it into small cubes, diamonds, or strips. When serving the fruit as a separate dish, it's best to cut it into wedges.

Can you eat the pit?

While mango flesh is typically eaten as food, many wonder whether the seed is edible, as it also contains many beneficial substances. It contains minerals, organic substances, vitamins, proteins, and macronutrients. It's often avoided because it's hard and bitter, but when the fruit is unripe, it's quite soft. It can also be used to prevent and treat certain illnesses.

Indications

The seed is useful for preventing anemia in people with low hemoglobin levels. It is also used to treat diarrhea and other dyspeptic disorders. It can be used in diets and to lower bad cholesterol levels. It can help prevent the development of hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Note!

The seeds are not only considered a valuable source of plant protein, but also help normalize blood glucose levels.

Rules for preparation and use

To eat the pit, it must be removed from the fruit and split in two. The hard shell surrounds a small, soft, white pulp with a slightly bitter taste. In more ripe mangoes, the pulp is dark and hard and has a distinctly bitter flavor, so it's best to eat the pits of unripe fruits. It is worth remembering that you should not consume too much of the fruit and its parts, as they significantly improve digestion, and large quantities of them can provoke dyspeptic disorders.

Most often, the seed is not eaten, but used to grow a tree at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

What cleaning method should I choose to avoid staining my clothes?

The best method for peeling is using a glass. To do this, cut the mango in half and peel the skin using a glass. All the juice will drain into the glass. If the mango is not overripe, you can peel it with a knife or vegetable peeler, as it will release little juice. To avoid staining your clothes, it's best to choose unripe mangoes, as they are less soft and juicy.

Is fruit peel edible?

The fruit's peel is inedible due to its tough texture and unpleasant taste. Furthermore, it contains oils that can cause allergic reactions in people with hypersensitivity. It is also avoided due to its lack of nutritional value.

Does fruit ripeness affect peeling and slicing?

This is the most important criterion. Ripe fruits cannot be peeled and cut using certain methods because they release too much juice and have too soft flesh. Unripe fruits, on the other hand, cannot be peeled using certain methods because they are too hard. For example, only a soft mango can have its pit removed with a spoon or by twisting.

What is mango seed used for?

Few people know that it's very beneficial, which is why it's mostly used for propagation. However, it can also be used to prevent many diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyspeptic disorders.

Mango is a juicy and sweet fruit. Cutting and peeling it can often be a pain, but using the methods described above, it's effortless and a joy to enjoy.