Mangos are tropical fruits renowned for their sweet and sour taste. Additionally, they provide essential nutrients like vitamin A, protein, carbohydrates, fiber and minerals.
Mangoes can be easily cut or diced into small pieces for snacking, but it is best consumed whole. While the skin of a mango is edible, it contains chemicals which could pose risks to your health.
Bite into the skin
Mangoes are a beloved summer fruit, but they’re not always easy to peel without making a mess. Plus, their thick and almost plastic-y skin makes it more challenging than other fruits’ skins to get at all layers without damaging it.
Mangoes are best eaten with your teeth, as the skin contains a bitter taste and shouldn’t be eaten at all. Furthermore, mangos contain high levels of urushiol which may cause allergies in some individuals.
If you have an allergy to poison ivy or poison oak, it is strongly advised that you avoid eating mango skin as it contains urushiol. Eating mango skin may cause an itchy rash and swelling of the skin, making it unsuitable for those with sensitive skin.
Some people may prefer eating mango skin while the fruit is still fresh, but it’s not advised if the fruit has gone bad. To ensure safe consumption, wash the mango first to eliminate any pesticides or chemicals added since harvest.
Once your fruit has been washed, you can eat it by placing the skin on top of the flesh and chewing with your teeth like an apple. This method is least messy and safe if you aren’t allergic to the skin or sap of the fruit.
Remove the skin
When making a mango smoothie or adding the fruit to your breakfast, it’s essential to peel and cut the fruit for maximum flavor. This is especially true if using an unripe mango which may have tough skin that makes peeling more challenging than when using ripe ones.
If you’re not interested in a messy task, there are plenty of easy solutions to get the job done without much fuss. Delish recommends cutting a grid on the fruit’s surface and then using a paring knife or spoon to separate its flesh from its skin. Great British Chefs suggests trimming away each previous cut section of fruit to help remove as much skin as possible.
Another option is using a glass to peel the mango, which Tastemaker Katie Quinn recommends as an efficient and sanitary way of getting rid of its skin. Place one half upright along the rim of a glass cup, aligning where its peel meets with the edge of the glass, then slide it down to separate from its flesh and discard.
For this technique to work, you need a glass with a narrow rim. This will enable you to slide the fruit down its length without the peel sticking to it. Ideally, make sure the rim is thinner than the flesh so you can easily slide it between skin and flesh to separate mango from its peel.
Finally, slice the mango halves in lengthwise and crosswise cuts without breaking their skin. You may also create a grid-like pattern by cutting in an irregular pattern to form cubes.
Cut the skin
Mangoes are one of the world’s most beloved fruits, and they provide numerous nutrients like vitamins C, A, K and E. Plus they’re high in fiber and water which help you feel fuller for longer.
But mangoes can be slippery and messy when ripe, so learning how to cut them properly is an essential skill. Here are a few tips for maximizing your mango harvest:
Begin by cutting away the top (stem end) and bottom of your fruit with a sharp chef’s knife. Doing this will help you balance it on your cutting board and prevent the juicy flesh from sliding around.
Next, hold the mango in your non-dominant hand and use a vegetable peeler to peel away its skin starting at the pit side. Doing this will help remove any peel and leave only bare mango flesh behind which you can then cut into cubes or dices for serving.
You can score mango cheeks into small cubes without cutting through the skin with a paring knife. While this method is simpler, the outcome may be softer than if you completely removed the skin.
Alternately, you can slice the mango’s skin into pieces using a knife by making lengthwise and crosswise cuts in it. After inverting it so the cuts protrude like a hedgehog’s back, you will have neat little slices sticking out from underneath.
This technique is especially popular with kids. It teaches them how to separate flesh from skin, providing an excellent teaching tool about healthy eating habits.
Eat the flesh
Eating mango has numerous health advantages, such as providing you with essential vitamins and nutrients. Not only does it reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease, but it can also aid digestion, promote brain function, and provide you with plenty of fiber for an energy boost.
If you’re craving sweetness from mangos, then make sure you prepare them properly. Mango skins can be tough and bitter, so peeling them before consumption helps mask their flavor. You could also blend mango chunks into smoothies for added nutrition and enjoyment.
The peel of a mango is packed with antioxidants, phytochemicals and triterpenes. Studies have demonstrated that these plant compounds can fight and prevent cancer, regulate blood sugar levels in diabetics, lower the risk for cardiovascular disease as well as diverticulitis – an intestinal inflammation disorder – in humans.
Mango skins are also high in fiber, making them an ideal food source for those with digestive health issues. A Harvard study discovered that consuming foods high in fiber like mangoes can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 40%.
Eat the peel of a mango to get even more of its essential vitamins and minerals. Just make sure you wash it thoroughly before consumption as mangos often contain pesticides.
Mango skins provide numerous nutritional and fiber benefits, plus they’re high in potassium. This mineral can help lower blood pressure – which could be an indicator for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Furthermore, potassium has been known to reduce kidney stones as well as promote overall bone health, particularly among older adults.