For many shoppers, it’s easy to over-buy more ginger than you actually need. Most recipes, like chicken bulgogi or ginger tea, only require a tablespoon or two, but most stores sell it in long clusters that are often far more than you actually need. And for people like me who try to grow our own ginger, sometimes storage is an absolute necessity when abundance occurs!
Fortunately, ginger is relatively forgiving if you store it right, whether it’s just a few days on the counter or several months in the freezer. Here’s how to keep your ginger fresh, no matter the circumstance.
How to Store Fresh Ginger
If you’re planning to use a whole ginger root within a couple of days, keeping it out on the counter is fine. As long as the ginger is kept out of direct sunlight and heat, it’ll remain good to eat for about a week.
For anything longer than that, storing ginger in the fridge is the safer option.
Here’s how: Wrap your unpeeled root in a paper towel to absorb excess moisture, then place it in an airtight bag or container before storing it in the fridge. Make sure you don’t forget the paper towel, since ginger tends to develop condensation in airtight containers.
Without anything to keep the ginger dry, it could run the risk of developing mold. If you store your fresh ginger correctly, it should last about a month in the fridge.
How to Store Ginger Root
If you have a large, uncut hand of ginger, you don’t have to use one single storage method for the whole thing. When it comes time to prepare your recipe, break off however much you need and leave the rest of the root unpeeled. The skin protects the freshness underneath and slows down the moisture that leads to mold and spoilage.
You can leave the ginger root out on your counter or in the fridge if you want it to last longer. Regardless of how you store your ginger, make sure to check on any noticeable change in its quality from time to time. It’s normal for ginger to develop a little softness at the edges, but fuzzy spots or sour, musty smells mean it’s time to throw it away.
Does Ginger Need to Be Refrigerated?
You don’t typically need to refrigerate your ginger unless you need it to last more than a week or two.
However, once you’re looking at anything longer than a week, refrigeration can make a noticeable difference. Unpeeled ginger stored in the fridge can last almost three times longer than ginger stored on the counter.
How to Store Peeled Ginger
Since the skin protects the ginger from outside contaminants, peeled ginger spoils noticeably faster than whole ginger root. To prevent this, you can wrap the peeled pieces in plastic wrap or place them in a small airtight container to place in the fridge. Peeled ginger stored like this will last about two to three weeks in the fridge, which is about half as long as unpeeled pieces.
If you know you won’t use peeled ginger within a few weeks, it’s worth freezing instead of letting it sit in the refrigerator and slowly shrivel.
How to Tell If Ginger Has Gone Bad
There are a few tell-tale signs that indicate ginger has gone bad. Fuzzy white, green, or black spots are clear indicators of mold. Even if it’s only in one spot, mold can spread through the entire root in ways that we can’t always see. The safest option is always to throw the entire piece away instead of trying to cut around the mold.
Even if your ginger is a little soft, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s fully spoiled. It should still be good to use, but it’s worth cutting into it first to make sure that the inside is still firm and yellow. If it’s spoiled, the inside will be discolored or mushy throughout.
How to Freeze Ginger
Freezing ginger is one of the most effective methods for preserving freshness, and it doesn’t even cause a noticeable change in flavor. There are a few different ways to freeze ginger depending on how you plan to cook it.
Unsurprisingly, the simplest method is just to freeze the entire root, skin and all, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stored in a freezer bag. When it comes time to use the frozen ginger, you can just grate it directly into your dish, no thawing required.
If your ginger is already cut into pre-portioned pieces, you can peel and finely grate them into an ice cube tray and freeze them until they’re solid. Once they’re fully frozen, store the cubes in a freezer bag for quick, ready-to-use portions to use in soups, stir-fries, marinades, and tea. Stored correctly, frozen ginger can last anywhere from five to six months.