Fresh ginger is a relatively potent spice, so most recipes require only a small amount. But what do you do with the leftovers? We’ll show you how to store ginger to preserve freshness for longer.
1. Don’t Buy Too Much
Yes, this one seems obvious, but so often in our rush to get our grocery shopping done, we simply grab what is on the shelf, check it off our list, and move on. Take time to think about how much ginger you need for your recipe and try to find a piece that won’t leave you with too much leftover. This way, you won’t even have to think about how to store ginger in the first place.
The health benefits of ginger are well known. If you use ginger often to spice up your food, it makes sense to buy a bigger piece and use it up bit by bit. When storing fresh ginger root, it’s important to buy the freshest piece you can find, because ginger does not keep well for very long. Look for a piece that is firm and has good weight. Old ginger is softer and has wrinkled skin.
2. Keep Unpeeled Ginger Outside the Refrigerator
Wondering how to store fresh ginger outside of the refrigerator? As long as it is unpeeled and uncut, storing ginger is possible in any dark and cool place. A pantry or food cellar is the best option: you can store ginger there for several weeks. Wrap the root in a cloth towel and place it in a sealable container or plastic bag before storing it.
3. Cut Ginger Roots Need to be Cooled in the Fridge
But how to store ginger root that is already peeled or has been cut in one or two places? In this case, storing ginger in the refrigerator is best. If you are going with this option, using an airtight container is a must: the humidity inside the refrigerator is often quite high, which encourages the growth of bacteria and fungus.
Option 1: In order to keep the cut area moist, cover it with a reusable wrap like beeswax food wrap. Then wrap the ginger root completely in a cloth towel and place it in an airtight container or paper bag.
Option 2: Alternatively, wrap the fresh ginger in a damp cloth and place it in the fruit and vegetable drawer of your fridge.
Tip: If you find yourself without a refrigerator, storing cut or peeled ginger outside of it is also possible, but the cut areas will become woody and hard. The inner parts, however, will still stay fresh.
4. Freeze Ginger
If you want to make sure that you’ll never be short of ginger, freezing is your best bet. Here’s what to do:
Method 1: Grated Ginger
Many recipes call for grated ginger. If you are looking for how to store fresh ginger for cooking, this is probably going to be your method of choice.
- Peel and finely grate the ginger.
- Using a teaspoon, scoop the grated ginger into little individual piles on a parchment-lined plate or tray.
- Place the plate or tray in your freezer.
- When the ginger is frozen, collect the piles, place them into an airtight container, and put them back in the freezer.
Method 2: Ginger Slices
Storing ginger julienned or in slices is the better option if you plan to use your ginger to make things like ginger tea, ginger water, golden milk, or chai lattes.
- Peel the ginger.
- Julienne or slice the ginger.
- Freeze it in an airtight and freezer-safe container.
Tip: To freeze foods without plastic use resealable glass jars or stainless steel containers.
5. Grow Your Own Ginger
The surest way to always have fresh ginger on hand is to grow your own ginger at home. This way you can store ginger for the whole coming year. Here are some tips:
- Buy organic ginger from the supermarket. Choose one with “eyes” or vegetation nodes at the end of the knobs.
- Plant the ginger in a deep pot with soil with the “eyes” are facing upwards and peeking out of the soil.
- Keep the soil moist and well drained.
- Ginger root grows slowly, so allow a few weeks for germination to occur.
- Wait until the stems die before digging out your ginger root.
Read on: Benefits of Eating Raw Ginger
6. Pickle your Ginger to Keep it Fresh
Pickling is probably the most delicious method of storing ginger. If you pickle fresh ginger root, it will never become hard or dry. Simply peel the root, cut it into thin slices and place in a jar of vinegar.
You can store pickled ginger for up to six months. It is a classic accompaniment to sushi or other Asian dishes, but is also great on sandwiches or just on its own.
This article has been translated and adapted from German to English by Christie Sacco. You can find the original version here: Ingwer lagern: So bleibt er lange frisch
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