How to Store Ginger Root to Keep it Fresh and Flavorful

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The best ways to store whole, peeled, sliced, and minced ginger root
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Ginger is a delicious root with many culinary (and even medicinal) benefits. If you want your ginger to last a few weeks or even a few months and maintain its flavor, you're in the right place. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know, including how to refrigerate or freeze your ginger for long-term freshness. We’ll even teach you how to pickle your ginger so it stays fresh for up to a month in your fridge.

Things You Should Know

  • Store fresh, whole ginger in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. If the ginger is peeled, dry it off with a paper towel before storing it.
  • Keep minced ginger refrigerated in a sealed jar for up to 1 week.
  • Freeze peeled ginger wrapped in plastic for up to 3 months. For minced ginger, freeze it in smaller portions (or an ice-cube tray); then, transfer these portions to a freezer-safe bag.
Section 1 of 3:

Refrigerating Fresh Ginger

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  1. Place the ginger in a sealable plastic bag, taking care to push all of the air out of the bag. Then, stash it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for around 3 weeks to keep it fresh. [1] If you’ve peeled your ginger, dab the extra moisture off the peeled ginger root with a clean paper towel before sticking it in a sealable plastic bag in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer. [2]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Transfer your minced ginger into a clean glass jar. Replace the lid, tighten it for a good seal, and aim to use the minced ginger within a week. [3]
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Section 2 of 3:

Freezing Ginger

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Peel the skin off the entire ginger knob, and then cover it tightly with plastic wrap. [4] Stash the frozen ginger in the freezer for around 3 months, removing chunks as-needed for your future recipes. [5]
    • Did You Know? Frozen ginger doesn’t require any thawing time. Just remove it from the freezer and grate it into your recipes! [6]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Cut your ginger root into thin chunks—no peeling is required. Slide a piece of parchment paper onto a cookie sheet and arrange the chunks of ginger on top. Let the slices freeze for 1 night before transferring them into a freezer bag or freezer-safe container. [7] Stash the frozen ginger in the freezer for around 3 months, removing chunks as-needed for your future recipes.
    • Freezing sliced ginger is a good option if you’d rather mince your ginger later on.
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Peel the skin off your ginger and then mince or grate it into a fine consistency (a microplane works well for this). Then, scoop 1  tsp (4.9 mL) portions of the minced/grated ginger onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and stick them in the freezer until they’re totally frozen. Transfer the minced ginger chunks to a freezer-safe bag and keep them in your freezer for up to 6 months. [8]
    • It’s also possible to freeze your small minced ginger portions in an ice-cube tray. Once the cubes are completely frozen, store them in a freezer-safe bag in your freezer. [9]
  4. Slice the unpeeled ginger into smaller slices, working into the opposite side of the grain as you cut. Then, transfer these chunks to a blender and purée until they’re a smooth mixture. Pour the puréed ginger into a freezer-safe bag, seal the top securely, and then flatten the mixture so it fills the entire bag. [10]
    • Try to use up your frozen ginger within a few months. Whenever you need some, simply break off a piece to use in your desired recipe.
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Section 3 of 3:

Pickling Ginger

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Aim to make moderately sized chunks rather than finely chopping the ginger up. Sprinkle 1 tsp (7 g) of salt over the ginger chunks and transfer them into a bowl. [11]
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Remove the chunks from the bowl and move them into a clean mason jar. [12]
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    In a saucepan, mix 1  c (240 mL) of rice vinegar together with 5-7 tbsp (63-88 g) of white sugar. Wait for the mixture to reach a boil, and then transfer it into the jar on top of the sliced and salted ginger pieces.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Store Ginger
    Wait for the jar to cool completely before fastening the lid and stashing the jar in your refrigerator. Ideally, give the mixture a week to work its magic—once the ginger has a pinkish tint, it’s ready to slice up and enjoy. [13]
    • Pickled ginger lasts for about 1 month in the refrigerator.
  5. Herbal medicine expert Julie Brow-Polanco suggests peeling and slicing fresh ginger into thin slices and pounding it lightly to release some of the juices. Then, “pack it down into a quart-sized mason jar, leaving at least 1 in (2.5 cm) of headspace at the top. Make a brine with 1  c (240 mL) of filtered water and 2 tbsp (28 g) of sea salt and pour it into the mason jar, still leaving 1 in (2.5 cm) of headspace. Seal the jar and store it in a dark, room-temperature space for about 3 days before enjoying the ginger."
    • According to Brow-Polanco, “lacto-fermented means that you don’t use vinegar, but instead use Lactobacillus bacteria to essentially pickle the ginger.” She goes on to explain that “just a small amount with meals is plenty.”
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    If the ginger grows root buds, can I plant it and grow more ginger?
    Community Answer
    That's what I do! I plant them in a pot (not too deep) and keep them moist in strong, but not direct, sunlight.
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  • Question
    What should I eat when I have an upset stomach?
    Nicole Smith
    Community Answer
    Cut off and peel a piece of ginger root the size of your pinkie. Boil it in about 12 oz. of bottled/filtered water. It should be done once you start smelling the ginger aroma. After it's finished, you may add honey and/or lemon according to your preference.
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    Can ginger be canned by hot water bath or pressure canning?
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    Yes.
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      Tips

      • Shop around for the freshest-looking piece of ginger available—smooth, shiny skin and a spicy fragrance are both good signs. Avoid any ginger that feels a bit soft, or you’ll be eating ginger that’s on the decline. [14]
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      • It’s possible to vacuum-seal your ginger in jars before storing it in the refrigerator or freezer. Keep in mind, though, that your jar still needs to be treated with pressure or a water bath. [15]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-buy-store-cook-with-ginger-root-recipes-article
      2. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/heres-the-best-way-to-store-fresh-ginger-tips-from-the-kitchn-214681
      3. ↑ https://www.simplyrecipes.com/how-to-store-fresh-ginger-5191919
      4. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-prepare-and-store-ginger#toc-freezing-whole-ginger
      5. ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-buy-store-cook-with-ginger-root-recipes-article
      6. ↑ https://www.herbsociety.org/file_download/inline/b8a3f445-b288-4d06-befa-b223804925fd
      7. ↑ https://www.transplantingtraditions.org/Ginger
      8. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/store-grated-ginger-in-the-freezer-to-make-it-last-longer-tips-from-the-kitchn-186709
      9. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/how-to-freeze-ginger-7853547
      1. ↑ https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-prepare-and-store-ginger#toc-freezing-whole-ginger
      2. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/q-a/pickledginger.htm
      3. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/q-a/pickledginger.htm
      4. ↑ https://whatscookingamerica.net/q-a/pickledginger.htm
      5. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/3-tips-for-buying-and-storing-fresh-ginger-228479
      6. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/vacuum-sealing-food-home-safely

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If you want to store ginger in the fridge, place an unpeeled ginger root into a resealable plastic bag. Squeeze all of the air out of the bag and place the ginger in the crisper, where it will stay fresh for several weeks. You can also place the ginger in a paper bag in your crisper if you know you will be using it within about a week. If your ginger is peeled, place it in a jar full of a spirit such as vodka, sherry, or rice wine, and close the jar tightly. While this method will preserve the ginger for 3 months or longer, it will also change its flavor. If you want to learn more, such as how to keep ginger in the freezer, continue reading the article!

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        Jul 5, 2016

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