How To Store Fresh Ginger Root – How to Store Ginger Here’s how to store fresh ginger, whole root, chopped or grated, to keep it fresh.
Sarah is a chef, culinary educator, and author of three cookbooks, The Pocket Pawpaw Cookbook, Tasting Ohio, and The Fruit Forager’s Companion. It won the IACP Cookbook Award in 2019.
How To Store Fresh Ginger Root
Fresh ginger root is the least demanding of all produce for storage. With just a little storage knowledge, you’ll be able to cut, grate, and crush fresh ginger for weeks!
Ginger — Grounded Grub
First, ginger is not actually native. It is the rhizome (or swollen underground stem) of a tropical plant. Ginger rhizomes grow in spreading formations, giving rise to the market term “ginger hands” for the large spiky clumps.
You can buy fresh or dried ginger. Dried ginger is usually ground, but is sometimes sold in whole individual dried pieces.
Refrigerate fresh, whole, unpeeled ginger in an airtight plastic bag in the crisper drawer. An airtight bag traps oxygen and moisture, two things that cause ginger to mold.
Whole, unpeeled ginger root stored this way in the refrigerator will last up to two months. Not too shabby!
How To Store Fresh Ginger The Best Way
Maybe you went a little crazy and peeled more ginger than you needed. Don’t worry! Simply wrap the peeled radishes in plastic and store in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Some people swear by keeping peeled ginger root in a jar of vodka in the fridge. If you do this, it will take 8 weeks.
Freezing ginger is a great option when you don’t use ginger often, but you want to keep it on hand.
To freeze ginger, wrap it in plastic (break it into small knobs if you’re freezing a large handful) and then freeze it for up to 6 months. You can choose whether you want to peel the ginger first or leave it on the skin. In any case, there is no need to melt the ginger if you are going to grate it.
Ginger Root: How To Buy, Store, And Cook With Ginger
You can freeze ground ginger in an ice cube tray. Once the ginger cubes are frozen, remove them, store in a zip lock bag and use within 3 months. Ginger is a great way to spice up your favorite foods, including stir-fries, rice wine, or even warm ginger-flavored ice cream. In addition to its tasty benefits, it has the added value of lasting longer than most fruits and vegetables in the pantry. However, knowing how to properly store ginger means you’ll be able to enjoy all your favorite ways to partake in this spice for even longer.
Ginger itself will last about a week at room temperature, although depending on how you store fresh ginger, you can extend this time to several months.
Whether you want to learn how to store your fresh produce from the farmers market for the short or long term, there are several ways to keep your knobby root fresh and healthy until you’re ready to use it.
If you’re ready to discover the best way to store fresh ginger root, we’ve got all the information you need and more.
Ways To Use Leftover Ginger
Most consumers refer to ginger as a type of root, but it is actually a rhizome, also known as the stem of the plant. This strain provides many incredible health benefits, including reducing inflammation, reducing muscle soreness, and reducing nausea. These beneficial properties are just a few of the many reasons to stock your home with ginger year-round.
One of the first steps in ginger storage is to choose the right stalk for your home before you begin canning fresh ginger root. There is not much difference between turmeric and ginger in terms of storage. Of course, if you’re growing your own ginger root, choosing the perfect one is easy, especially if you know how to grow ginger in pots indoors.
When you harvest ginger or buy it at the store, a good piece of ginger has a smooth skin on the surface with a thick, firm interior. If the ginger root is hollow or soft when harvested, it is not a fresh piece.
Likewise, if you see any discoloration on the surface of the ginger, it’s a good idea not to pick that particular specimen, just like how to tell when celery is going bad. Ginger is light brown, so if you see any dark spots, bruises, or white fungal spots, you should not take this piece home.
How To Store Ginger: Counter, Fridge, Or Freezer
If you can’t find the best ginger samples, learn how to substitute fresh ginger so you don’t miss out on your favorite recipes. Powdered ginger often works in a pinch.
Now that you have fresh ginger, the easiest way to store it safely is to store it in the refrigerator, especially in the crisper drawer. You can also store ginger root in a paper bag in the fridge, and it will stay fresh for at least a week.
Otherwise, store your unpeeled ginger root in a crisp wrapper in a reusable plastic bag the same way you store asparagus in the refrigerator for your favorite side dish recipe.
Be sure to remove all air pockets from the ziplock bag before closing the bag. Completing this step will extend the life of your ginger from about a week to about a month. To keep the rest fresh, remove small pieces from the rhizomes instead of peeling them all at once.
Benefits Of Ginger And Its Uses
Do this with a knife or grater to remove small pieces each time you use it. If you have already peeled ginger or cut any part of the root, use a paper towel to absorb excess juice and moisture from the surface for better protection.
When storing cilantro in the refrigerator, you can place the bunch stem-side down in a glass of water. Cover the top of the herb and the top of the jar with plastic and secure in the container with a rubber band.
The refrigerator is a great place to store basil if you will be using it within a few days. Follow these tips for storing cilantro and you can enjoy the fresh herb in your favorite recipes.
The refrigerator is also a great way to store fresh eggs from the grocery store. If you buy farm fresh eggs from someone, these eggs can be kept on the counter at room temperature for a while.
How To Cut Ginger Like A Pro
Another great place to store ginger or cooked beets and other fruits and vegetables is in your freezer. Similar to preparing ginger for the refrigerator, store the rhizomes in a reusable freezer bag or airtight plastic bag. Ginger should be kept unpeeled in the freezer and used only when needed.
Freezing allows you to preserve the original for up to six months and preserves the fresh flavor of ginger even better than refrigeration, just as you would preserve freshly ground coffee. If you want to add some frozen ginger to your smoothie, there is no need to thaw it first.
Peeling ginger is even easier when frozen, so use a vegetable peeler to remove some of the skin before adding to food. Then micro plan some clean pieces of ginger in a blender or whatever recipe you plan to make.
Sometimes all you need to know is a short-term solution to keep ginger root safe until it’s time to use it. Maybe you don’t plan to use it right away, but you know you will in the next few days. Finding the right place to temporarily suspend ginger is just as important as extending its shelf life.
Brilliant Ways To Store Ginger
If you want to go this storage route, all you have to do is keep the ginger root, completely unaltered, in your kitchen fruit bowl. This means that you don’t keep the skin intact, cut the root into small pieces and leave it as you found it until it’s time to use it. Keep it away from wet, humid areas and direct sunlight.
When handling peeled ginger, an excellent way to extend its shelf life is to add it to dry sherry or vodka. An acidic liquid such as lemon or lime juice also works well to preserve ginger root for weeks to three months at a time.
This method will not only change the taste of ginger, but it will also give you a new way to avoid the natural health benefits of the root.
Start by cutting the ginger root into small pieces, about two to three inches in size. Store the pieces and sherry in a glass container for best preservation.
Growing Ginger From Root
When the alcohol starts to become cloudy, it’s a sign that it’s time to throw away the ginger. This mixture works well on its own or mixed with other spices and ingredients to create a delicious marinade.
Ginger root is not the only thing you need to know how to store this delicacy
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