How to Dice a Mango (+ Mango Hedgehog!)

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Mangos can be tricky, with their enormous seed and wonky oval shape. Learn three safe, easy steps for dicing a mango; no peeler required. (Plus, learn how to make a mango hedgehog!)

Block pottery bowl filled with diced mangos.

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Dice a Mango: 3 Easy Steps
Expert Tips & FAQs
Mango Recipes
How to Dice a Mango

Dice a Mango: 3 Easy Steps

Step 1: Cut Out the Seed

Mangos have a large, flat seed that runs down the center of the fruit. The flesh is firmly attached to it, and it must be cut away, so the first thing you need to do is identify where the seed is.

The easiest way to cut the seed out is set the mango on the counter. It will naturally settle on its side. The seed inside will be parallel to the counter.

You can also find the seed by identifying the ridge that runs the circumference of the mango at the edges of the seed.

To cut the flesh away from the seed, balance the mango on one of the thin sides and cut away the fruit from both sides of the seed.

Use a larger knife for this step, and make sure it is sharp. (We always use our short chef's knife.) Use utmost care as you cut the mango.

Try to get as close to the seed as possible - you will know you are there when your knife meets with resistance.

Cut on either side of the ridge and you will end up with three mango slices; one with the seed and two with only fruit.

Cutting board with chef's knife and mangos cut and whole.

Step 2: Score the Fruit

Set one fruit-only piece of mango on the counter, flesh-side up.

Using a sharp paring knife, score the fruit in a crosshatch pattern, making the squares as big as you want your dice-size to be.

Mango halves on wooden cutting board. One scored, the other popped out

Step 3: Pop the Mango!

Here’s that magic trick you've been waiting for!

Place your thumbs gently on the face of the scored mango and your fingers underneath. Apply a little counter-pressure and Ta-da! It pops inside-out like magic!

Cool, huh?

Cutting board with diced mangos in a bowl, and mango hedgehog to the right.

Now that you've peeled and scored the mango, you have three choices:

Eat it now! Just eat the little dices right off the skin! No muss, no fuss! (Don't eat that skin though!)

Use it in a recipe. Hold the mango over a bowl or plate and use a sharp paring knife to cut the mango away from the skin.

Eat it later: Wait until your are ready to eat it before you pop it inside-out. Be sure to pack an extra napkin for cleaning up after!

Expert Tips & FAQs

How do you pick a ripe mango at the store?

Ripe mangoes smell sweet and give just a little when you press them with your thumb. Aim for a semi-firm, ripe peach feel. Like peaches, overly ripe mangoes are difficult to dice and taste mushy. (No one wants that!)

Can you eat mango skin?

The flesh of mangos is delicious, but you should avoid eating the skin. The skin, bark, and leaves of mangoes contain urushiol, the toxin in poison ivy and poison oak. If you're allergic to poison ivy, biting into a mango can cause a severe reaction, including swelling, rash, and even problems breathing.

How do you make a mango hedgehog?

This is my absolute favorite thing to do with mangos, and it takes less than a minute.

To make it, all you need to do it leave a little half moon at the end uncut when you are scoring the mango. Then just use a whole allspice and a couple of whole cloves to make eyes and a nose, and you've got yourself an adorable mango hedgehog!

Use it to add a little fun to your next fruit charcuterie board or zhuzh up a salad bowl. Or just eat it, 'cause it's fun!

Mango hedgehog beside blue crockery bowl full of diced mango.

Mango Recipes

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5 from 4 votes

How to Dice a Mango

Known as the hedgehog method, this is the easiest way to dice a mango quickly and evenly.

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Course: Prep

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan

Prep Time:5

Total Time:5

Servings: servings

Calories: 124kcal

Author: Renee

Equipment

1 sharp paring knife

Ingredients

1 ripe mango
1 whole allspice optional, for hedgehog
2 whole cloves optional, for hedgehog

Instructions

Cut Out the Seed

The first thing you need to do is identify where the seed is.
Set the mango on the counter: it will naturally settle on its side. The seed inside will be parallel to the counter.
You can also find the seed by identifying the ridge that runs the circumference of the mango.
Balance the mango on one of the thin sides and cut away the fruit from both sides of the seed. Get as close to the seed as possible - you will know you are there when your knife meets with resistance.
Cut on either side of the ridge and you will end up with three mango slices; one with the seed and two with only fruit.

Score the Fruit

Set one fruit-only piece of mango on the counter, flesh-side up.
Using a sharp paring knife, score the mango in a crosshatch pattern, making the resulting squares as big as you want them to be.

Pop the Mango!

Place your thumbs gently on the face of the scored mango and your fingers underneath.
Apply a little counter-pressure and Ta-da! It pops inside-out like magic!

Make a Hedgehog (Optional)

Don't score the very end of the mango half, leaving a small triangle of mango at one end.
Gently push the cloves and allspice into the mango to form the hedgehog's nose and eyes.

Notes

Ripe mangoes smell sweet and give just a little when you press them with your thumb. Aim for a semi-firm, ripe peach feel.

Once your mango is cut and scored, you have three choices:

Eat it now! Just eat the little dices right off the skin! No muss, no fuss!
Use it in a recipe. Hold the mango over a bowl or plate and use a sharp paring knife to cut the mango away from the skin.
Eat it later: Wait until your are ready to eat it before you pop it inside-out. Be sure to pack an extra napkin for cleaning up after!