How to Eat a Mango 8 Different Ways

If you’re not adding mango to savory, spicy, or sweet dishes, you’re doing it wrong. And if you only enjoy mango in fruit salad or on its own, well, you have a whole new world of mango to explore. 

Mango is a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in so many raw preparations, as well as in so many mango recipes from a range of cuisines. Because mango adds so much flavor and texture, knowing when to use it can also amp up home cooking without needing to learn any new techniques. Just add mango! Chopped salsa, like pico de gallo, hot curries, cheese plates, sticky rice, spring rolls, and so much more can reach a new level of culinary excellence with the addition of mango.

“The beauty of the mango lies in its versatility,” says Dan Spellman, Director of Marketing for the National Mango Board. “There’s no single best way to enjoy this tropical delight. Whether you prefer the classic method of slicing and dicing, the adventurous approach of biting right into the skin, or the elegant option of pureeing it into a refreshing smoothie, the mango is a fruit that caters to all preferences. Whatever recipe you choose, they can vary between sweet and savory.”

Ready to discover how to eat a mango in many different ways? Here’s how: 

How to Tell If a Mango Is Ripe

A ripe mango is worth waiting for. 

“For all mango varieties, a gentle squeeze is a reliable ripeness indicator,” says Spellman. It should be similar in texture to a ripe stone fruit—that is, a bit soft but not mushy, and certainly not rock hard.

In American supermarkets, six common varieties of fresh mango are typically stocked throughout the year, each with its own indicators of ripeness. Spellman explains:

• A Tommy Atkins mango typically has a deep red blush covering much of its skin, accented with green and orange-yellow.
• Honey (Ataulfo) mangos reach peak ripeness when their skin turns a deep golden color and develops small wrinkles. 
• Kent mangos ripen to a yellow hue with yellow dots covering more of the fruit. 
• Keitt mangos uniquely maintain a green skin when ripe. 
• As a Francis mango ripens, its green undertones fade, revealing a more golden yellow color.
• Finally, the green areas of a Haden mango will gradually turn yellow as it matures, Spellman notes.  

To ripen a mango faster, put it in a bag of rice. If your mango is ripening more quickly than you want to eat it, slice it and freeze the chunks. Or, puree the mango fruit and freeze it to use in smoothies. 

How to Cut a Mango

Cutting a mango can be done in several different ways, and it’s up to personal preference, there’s no right or wrong way. However, peeling the mango after cutting it will offer a more solid, less slippery surface for slicing. 

“To begin, slice each side of the fruit about a quarter-inch from the center, avoiding the seed,” Spellman says. “From there, you can either slice the flesh without breaking the skin and scoop it out with a spoon, or use a mango splitter. To use a splitter, stand the mango stem-side down on your cutting board and center the splitter over the widest part of the fruit.”

Once the fruit is cut, you can peel the mango using various methods, whether you prefer a knife, peeler, or even a spoon to remove the thick skin. 

What Does Mango Taste Like?

Mango offers a unique, sweet and tangy flavor, which can vary based on the variety.

“Tommy Atkins mangos are typically tart with sweet undertones, while honey (Ataulfo) mangos balance sweet and sour notes with tropical hints,” Spellman says. “Kent mangos are predominantly sweet with subtle sourness. Both Keitt and Francis mangos are known for their sweet, fruity taste. Haden mangoes combine sweet and sour flavors with a slightly bitter tropical aftertaste,” he adds. 

How to Eat a Mango

Now that you know how to buy a ripe mango and how to cut the tropical fruit, discover the various ways to eat a mango below:

Blend Up a Mango Smoothie

Mango is delicious in all types of smoothies! It adds so much flavor and juiciness, and combines with a variety of tropical fruits and green veggies as well. Use this mango smoothie recipe, or riff on your favorite smoothie recipe by adding mango.

Bake a Mango Pound Cake 

Mango is a lovely addition to baked goods, and definitely balances out the sugar with its signature tangy zip. This pound cake uses chunks of mango for a fun addition to a classic loaf treat.

Make Mango Chicken Curry

Mango goes so well in spicy food to add balance and a bit of sweet relief. Cooked dishes that call for mango can also use frozen mango chunks if you don’t have ripe mango on hand. Stir up this mango chicken curry, which uses yellow curry paste for its Thai flavor, or go for an Indian mango chicken curry, which relies on curry powder and aromatics for spice. 

Add Mango to Salad

Just like peaches, nectarines, and tomatoes, mango is a great fruit to add to so many salads. This watercress salad with mango is dressed in a light ginger lime vinaigrette that goes so well with mango slices.

Chop Up Mango Salsa

Chunky salsa with mango is a fantastic condiment and dip during the summer months. This mango salsa uses fresh jalapeño, but you can swap in other chiles, like serranos or habaneros, to play with the spice levels.

Shred a Mango Slaw

A great addition to fried or grilled proteins, mango slaw is zesty and fun. Mango chutney can work to add mango flavor to pre-shredded coleslaw mix, or you can shred your own cabbage and julienne some fresh mango for a fun, fresh, and juicy twist.  

Sip Some Lassi

Lassi, a South Asian yogurt-based drink, is extra tangy thanks to the fermented dairy and mango combo. And it’s super easy to make and full of health benefits. Enjoy lassi any time of day, or with spicy food to refresh your tongue. 

Top Your Breakfast With Mango

Mango chopped into a small dice is the ideal mix-in for oatmeal, overnight oats, or chia pudding. It’s also a great topping for any cereal. Pre-cut your mango and store it in a sealed food storage container for up to five days to make morning prep a snap.