How to Freeze Fresh Ginger Root
Ginger is a wonderful ingredient!
By freezing fresh ginger root, you can ensure you always have this essential ingredient readily available for all your favorite recipes. Plus, it makes peeling ginger a breeze! Don’t let a lack of fresh ginger hold you back – freeze it today and elevate your cooking game!
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Are you a fan of using fresh ginger root in your recipes, but always end up throwing away the leftovers because they go bad before you can use them? Well, fear not! I’ve got a solution for you – freezing your fresh ginger root!
Freezing fresh ginger root is a great way to make sure it stays fresh for longer and is always on hand when you need it. Don’t worry, freezing your ginger root won’t affect its flavor, so you can enjoy the same fresh taste in all your recipes.
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Ginger as an Ingredient
It comes in two forms: fresh (which is sweeter, more pungent, and overall has a more complex flavor profile vs. ground ginger) and ground (which is spicy and pungent because it contains fewer essential oils and less gingerol, but more shogaol-pungent constituents of ginger similar in chemical structure to gingerol- than fresh ginger).
I use both often and for different reasons and flavor profiles. But unlike ground, fresh ginger is something you need to use (Or freeze) relatively quickly from when you buy it (About 2 weeks is the “sweet” spot).
But that’s ok, that’s why you’re here, right? You can preserve your fresh ginger by freezing it. And the process itself is simple (And relatively quick).
What You Need
To freeze fresh ginger root, you’ll need a few items. In fact, you probably already have them in your kitchen.
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- knife
- cutting board
- freezer-safe bag or container (In the pictures you see me using a Grove.Co Reusable snack bag. But I currently switched and LOVE the Stasher Brand the best. Stasher Brand is a great sustainable & reusable choice, but I seriously do use them all the time).
- small baking sheet
- parchment paper/silicone baking mat
- marker
- freezer-friendly labels (if using reusable markers)
- fresh ginger (obviously).
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The best way to freeze ginger is to take your ginger root and cut it into pieces about 1-2 inches in length (most recipes call for this size). I also keep a couple that are halved as well, but that’s because I use those in soups, or brines, if you don’t do that, no need to keep such large pieces.
Either way, it is very important to cut the ginger first. DO NOT, try to cut frozen ginger. It’s too hard and you could seriously injure yourself.
Once it’s cut, lay it onto a small baking sheet (unless you have a lot of ginger) with parchment paper or a silicone mat and freeze overnight.
once it’s frozen, place it in a freezer-safe bag or container, making sure to remove as much air as possible before sealing the bag. Then store it in the freezer. This will last about 6 months.
And no, you don’t need to peel it ahead of time. If you look at the pictures above, I don’t peel my ginger before freezing. In fact, it’s actually easier to peel ginger after it’s frozen.
Ready to use?
Now that you have frozen ginger on hand, you can use it pretty much any time. Thawing is really dependent on how big the piece is, and how you plan to use it. If you’re grating it (like for dressings), you can simply remove a piece (or two) from the freezer, peel it, and then grate it.
If you need slices or chopped ginger, then you might need to peel the ginger first, then let it thaw. Ginger is very difficult (and can be unsafe) to cut frozen with a knife. If the piece is around an inch, it might be thawed enough after you peel it. If I’m cooking a lot that day, and the kitchen is on the warmer side, my ginger tends to thaw quickly (especially when it’s only an inch thick). But if they are larger pieces, or you didn’t cut the root ahead of time, take it out earlier than when you need to cook so it has time to thaw after you peel it.
Peeling Ginger
Peeling frozen ginger is actually easier than peeling fresh ginger. but peeling in general is easier than you might think.
To peel ginger (whether frozen or fresh/thawed), use a teaspoon, back facing you, and scrap the spoon towards you (check out the image below for a visual).
Now you’re ready to use your ginger anytime you need it!
So, don’t let your fresh ginger root go to waste! Give freezing a try and enjoy the convenience of always having fresh ginger on hand for all your culinary creations!
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