31 days: how to cut a mango

We have great mangos, pineapples, and bananas in Geita. Mangos, however, can be tricky to cut. When we first moved here I didn't have a clue and was baffled as to how to get any fruit off the huge pit in the center. I don't recall who showed me this technique, but it works beautifully.

Cutting a Mango

First you need to wash your mango really well. Mangos sometimes have a sticky residue on them that can cause a poison ivy like reaction. My husband and sister-in-law have both had this problem. As long as I wash it well before cutting, Carson is fine.

Here's a mango. On the left side there is a little knot where it was attached to the tree. On the right side the bottom comes to a point.

 Cut off enough of the point on the bottom to make a flat spot.

 The mango should now be able to stand up on the flat spot you just cut.

 Make a cut to one side of the knot, curving out slightly to miss the pit. With practice this gets easier.

 Here's what you've got.

 Now do the same thing on the other side. It's a little bit trickier because the mango is now off balance. Now you have two side chunks and the middle section with the pit in the center. Put the two side pieces aside.

 Cut any excess that you can get from around the edges of the pit piece.

 Then cut to remove the skin from those pieces.

 Now grab the two side pieces. Cut a grid in the mango, but don't go all the way through the skin.

Press from the skin side to invert the mango.

 Cut off each piece cutting as close as possible to the skin.

 Enjoy!

Jude had this one for his snack today!