How to Store Ginger?
User Reviews
4.8
-
Prep Time
15 mins
-
Total Time
15 mins
-
Course
Condiments
-
Cuisine
Indian
How to Store Ginger?
Description
To store fresh ginger root, begin by washing thoroughly to remove dirt, then dry completely by air drying or towel drying. If using within a week, store at room temperature in a cool, dry area. For longer storage, place unpeeled ginger in a resealable plastic bag inside the refrigerator crisper drawer; inspect for mold before use. To preserve ginger for several months, freeze it either whole or broken into pieces in a freezer bag or container. Frozen ginger retains usability as it can be grated directly without thawing, making it convenient for cooking or tea.
For ginger paste storage, if freezing, no addition of oil or salt is necessary, preserving flexibility to use ginger in savory and sweet preparations. If storing ginger paste in the refrigerator for short-term use in curries, adding oil and salt is fine for preservation. Proper storage extends shelf life and maintains ginger's flavor and texture for cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ginger root fresh
Instructions
Clean Ginger
- Wash the ginger root under running water and remove all the dust and debris
- You can air-dry by leaving it out on the kitchen counter or dry it well with a kitchen towel.
Store Ginger Root
- If you are going to use the ginger root within a week, leave it out and store in a cool dry place.
- To store in the refrigerator, put the ginger root in a resealable plastic bag and store it in the crisper section. Don't peel the skin if you are storing it in the refrigerator. But be sure to check for mold before using the ginger.
- To store ginger even longer, store it in the freezer. Keep it in a ziplock bag or freezer-safe container. If it is organic ginger, you can store it with the peel. Break into small pieces before freezing.
- Whenever you need ginger, just take it out of the freezer and grate it to use. Then, keep the ziploc bag back in the freezer for future use. Don't worry about thawing ginger as it is easy to peel and grate when frozen.
Store Ginger Paste
- Remove the jagged or bruised portions of the ginger and cut into small pieces.
- Blend the chopped pieces in a blender to a course or fine paste. Try to add as little water as possible.
- Once the ginger paste is ready, you can store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
- To store in freezer, use ice-cube trays with a lid to store the ginger in the freezer. The tray holds about a tablespoon of ginger in each cube. You can also fill the cube half to have 1/2 tablespoon, which works for most recipes.
- You can save space by removing the ginger cubes from the ice cube trays and storing them in a resealable plastic bag.
- You can also use Ziploc bags to store the paste if you don't have ice-cube trays. Add the ginger paste and flatten the bag to a thin layer as shown below. This way you can break easily the amount you need for cooking.
- Another way is to line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add a dollop of ginger paste in a row and freeze it. Then store those mounds in a ziploc bag and remove as much as air as possible before sealing and storing the bag in the freezer.
Notes
- Wash and dry fresh ginger thoroughly before storing to prevent spoilage.
- Keep ginger at room temperature for up to a week if planning to use soon.
- Refrigerate unpeeled ginger in a sealed bag in the crisper, checking for mold regularly.
- Freeze ginger in pieces or whole for long-term use; grating frozen ginger without thawing is convenient.
- Add oil and salt to ginger paste only if storing in the refrigerator for curry use; omit these when freezing paste.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
You'll Also Love
