Master Fresh Ginger in 4 Easy Steps
Trips to the produce section of the grocery store can be a source of indecision, frustration, and confusion. Produce can be expensive, so a mistake in picking something out can be costly. It can also be extremely frustrating when you are cooking a meal and one of the ingredients is not worthy of your creation. Use my guide below, and you can boldly enter produce with a clear plan of action. Soon you will be a Master of Fresh Ginger!
Master Fresh Ginger Selecting
- Pick up the piece of ginger and make sure it is firm and smooth (not wrinkly). It should also feel a bit weighty, so if it is feather-light, it may be dried up inside.
- Test it with your nail. You should be able to easily scrape a bit of the scale leaf off of the surface to reveal the yellow inside. You might need to check more than one spot (depending on the size). If it is not easy to scrape, it may be a sign that this piece is old and dried up or rotten and moldy.
- Ginger is usually sold by weight, so you can break off a piece of a larger piece if you need to purchase a smaller portion. Place it in a produce bag, and you are ready to move on with your shopping! Now you are a ginger-shopping pro!
Fresh Ginger Storage Tips
Refridgerator
Place whole ginger in a zip-lock baggy, and squeeze out all the air before closing. This will store for up to 3 weeks and can be used as needed.
Freezer
Place whole, sliced, or grated ginger in a freezer-zip-lock baggy, and squeeze out all of the air before closing. This will store for up to 3 months and can be used as needed.
Ginger Prepping Made Easy
Alright, you have gotten home with your magnificent hunks of ginger. Now what? Well, you have a couple of options. Some people prefer to wash and thinly slice it because there is less waste (especially when using a paring knife to peel it). I find if you use an old spoon or serrated peeler it is easy to grab the scale leaf parts without cutting off too much excess. I also find it easier to get better flavor distribution when you finely grate it. So without further ado, here is the easiest way to turn your Ginger hunk into a mound of aromatic and flavor-packed goodness.
- You can use a peeler or paring knife to remove the scale leaves (outer skin), but the easiest and cheapest way is to use a spoon (see the video). Don’t let the creases and grooves stress you out, because it is ok to separate pieces to get in between. Just remove as much as you can.
- Cut off any dry or woody parts of the ginger and discard, so all that is left is the yellow, aromatic “meat” portion.
- Using a micro grater with a food-holding hand guard, place pieces of the peeled ginger into the equipped food cup. (HINT: Try Freezing it first to create less mess and more consistant grating.)
- Grate the ginger down as far as you can using the guard insert to protect your fingers.
- You can take the knife (you used earlier to cut off the dry parts) to get the extra ginger off of the bottom of the grater. Just slide the non-sharp back of the blade from the top of the blades to the bottom. (Make sure you are on the bottom of it where the blades DO NOT stick out.)
Now that you have mastered fresh ginger prep, you are ready to use it in your cooking!
Master Fresh Ginger in Your Cooking
Ginger is a very versatile spice. Although it has a strong flavor, it can be used to flavor almost any protein or carbohydrate. It can also be used to enhance the flavor and/or homeopathic effects of a cup of tea. (Tea post coming soon!)
Flavors that pair well with Ginger:
- basil
- chile powder
- cilantro
- coconut
- garlic
- honey
- chocolate
- jalapeno
- lime
- lemongrass
- mint
- onions
- scallions
- any sugar
- turmeric
- vinegar
- apples
- bananas
- fish
- passion fruit
- root vegetables
- pears
- pineapple
- mango
- soy sauce
- sesame oil
- fish sauce
- hoisin sauce
For more ideas to add ginger to your diet including recipes, check out 100 Ways to Use Up Fresh Ginger Root!
Mastering Fresh Ginger in a Nutshell (Well, Almost)
Mastering fresh ginger is simple once you have a plan! You must choose a piece that is smooth and fresh. Whether you prefer to freeze or refrigerate, grate or slice, prep as needed or ahead of time, prep is a cinch when you figure out what methods you prefer! Whatever your reason(s) (health or taste), there are unlimited ways to use fresh ginger! I hope this has helped you feel more confident choosing, prepping, and cooking with fresh ginger as a new regular in your kitchen!
But That’s Another Blog Post
I have also been urged to try fresh ginger in coffee with some cinnamon and creamer! I can imagine this would also work with pumpkin spice, but I think that’s another blog post!
Author: Jennifer Friesen
Hi, I'm Jiffy! I love to learn and share new things. I hope jiffytalking.com will become a friendly hub for people to share their interests and knowledge.