How to Prepare Apple Mangoes: A Perfect Guide to Slicing and Enjoying
Apple Mango Preparation: The Ultimate Guide to Enjoying Sweet, Juicy Mangoes
Apple mangoes are a tropical delight! Learn the best methods for cutting and preparing these sweet fruits, ensuring you get the most out of every bite. Perfect for smoothies, desserts, or simply enjoying fresh, this guide covers everything from ripening to extracting every last piece of delicious flesh.
Ingredients
- 1 ripe Apple Mango
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Apple mangoes, like other mango varieties, may appear green when first picked. To achieve their signature sweetness and vibrant color, allow them to ripen at room temperature (around 20-25°C or 68-77°F) for 2 to 5 days. You’ll know they’re ready when they turn a beautiful yellow or reddish hue and yield slightly to gentle pressure. A perfectly ripe mango will feel soft and slightly yielding when you lightly press it.
Step 2
To ensure your mango is clean and hygienic, sprinkle it generously with baking soda and gently rub the skin all over. While you won’t be eating the peel, this step helps remove any surface impurities from handling and transport, and it prepares the mango for slicing, where the knife will pass through the peel.
Step 3
Apple mangoes have a large, flat seed in the center. To cut the mango, position your knife parallel to the seed. Slice down along one side of the seed to cut off a large ‘cheek’ of mango flesh. Repeat on the other side, aiming to cut around the large central seed.
Step 4
Take the two large mango ‘cheeks’ you’ve cut. Score the flesh in a grid pattern, being careful not to cut through the skin. You can make parallel cuts, then perpendicular cuts to create cubes. For easier handling and a visually appealing presentation, you can gently push the skin outwards from the bottom of the mango, causing the cubed flesh to fan out like a flower. Using a slightly rounded knife can help prevent accidentally cutting through the skin.
Step 5
If you plan to use the mango for toppings like on shaved ice (bingsu) or in yogurt, you can also peel the mango completely first. Then, slice it thinly and dice it into smaller, uniform pieces for easy incorporation into your dishes.
Step 6
Don’t discard the seed yet! There’s still plenty of delicious flesh clinging to it. Carefully peel the skin off the seed section and then use your knife to cut away the remaining fruit in bite-sized pieces. This ensures you don’t waste any of this delicious tropical fruit.
Step 7
The flesh attached to the seed can be enjoyed by hand, much like ribs! It’s a fun and delicious way to savor every last bit of the mango.
Step 8
Your perfectly prepared, golden apple mango is now ready to be enjoyed! Savor its natural sweetness and smooth texture, or use it to elevate your favorite desserts and beverages.
