Ginger is one of those almost magical ingredients that works in both savory and sweet foods. Therefore, fresh ginger should not be missing in my shopping basket.
Sometimes, however, there is more left than I would like. Do you feel the same? Then in this article I will show you how to store and preserve ginger. Here we go!
How do you store ginger?
Ginger is best stored in a cool and dark place. It is ideal to store ginger in an airtight container in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. Uncut ginger can also be stored in the pantry. The ginger can be kept for at least 3 weeks.
So much in a hurry. But when it comes to storing ginger, there are still a few tricks you should know. This way you can increase the shelf life of the ginger even further. And you should too to get the full benefits for your health:
Ginger is rich in essential oils (>150 components) and hot substances such as the so-called gingerols, which are responsible for the special fruity-hot taste. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory effect, activates intestinal activity and was effective against various viruses in laboratory tests.
Let’s start our measurement for optimal ginger storage with sliced ginger.
How do you store sliced ginger?
If the ginger has already been cut or peeled, the root can spoil more quickly. Then it is all the more important not to store the ginger uncooled.
It is best to put the cut ginger in a sealable bag or container and put it in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. This way you can store cut ginger for several weeks.
For this to work, the interface must be dry. Freshly cut ginger can be dabbed dry with a piece of kitchen paper. If the cut tuber is moist, it will spoil faster in the fridge.
Alternatively, you can attach some cling film to the cut with a rubber band. To save on the plastic, I use the dab-and-dry method.
If you’re lucky enough to have a pantry, you can store your ginger there as long as it’s uncut. But what about us non-pantry people? How long does ginger last unrefrigerated on the kitchen counter?
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How long does ginger keep without refrigeration?
Almost everyone has already experienced it: The fresh ginger root is not used as intended and remains in the kitchen with other fruit and vegetables.
After about a week, the first signs of aging become noticeable. The tuber becomes soft, wrinkled and sometimes starts to sprout. The ginger loses its sharpness and taste.
In summer temperatures, the aging process usually takes place faster than in the cold season.
If you know for sure that you won’t need your fresh ginger within the next few days, it’s better not to leave it uncooled. Better to keep the tuber for the same length of time.
Can you store ginger in the fridge?
Storing fresh ginger is wonderful in the refrigerator. In order for the tuber to last as long as possible, it should be in an airtight sealable bag or container in the vegetable drawer. So-called Ziploc bags are considered ideal.
Put the ginger root in the bag. Close the Ziploc closure almost completely. Then press the air out of the bag through the small opening and close the bag completely.
The ginger then looks almost as if it was vacuum-packed. Put the wrapped tuber in the vegetable compartment of your fridge. The ginger stays fresh for a long time and does not lose its sharpness or aroma.
You can then easily clean the bag and use it several times. If you are looking for a plastic-free solution for storing ginger, I can recommend wax paper.
How long does fresh ginger keep in the fridge?
Properly packaged in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator, ginger can be stored and stays fresh for several weeks. You don’t have to worry about losses in appearance, aroma or sharpness.
It works best for me to store the unpeeled ginger in a sealable bag with the air squeezed out. It is important that the tuber is dry and free of damage.
If I put a fresh root in the vegetable drawer like this, I can still look forward to fresh ginger in eight weeks.
Other methods for unpeeled tubers are less successful because the ginger goes bad faster.
For peeled ginger, I can recommend storing it in vodka. With this, too, peeled ginger stays with me for many weeks without any problems and does not lose its aroma.
Tip: Unlike ginger, you should never store potatoes in the fridge. There they become…cute!
Next, let’s take a look at the top ginger storage problems.
Mold when storing ginger – how bad is that?
Mold is never a good sign. If you see rot, in most cases the fungus has already spread deep down. My recommendation would therefore be either not to eat the ginger or, if it is a large, otherwise fresh bulb, to generously cut away the moldy area.
You should pat the new interface dry with a clean cloth. Put the remaining ginger in a resealable bag, squeeze out the air, and place in the crisper of your fridge.
We’ll see why I swear by the bag so much in the next section.
Storing ginger in the tupper – does that make sense?
Storing ginger in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator makes a lot of sense. Because it keeps the tuber fresh for longer. My experiments have even shown that the ginger lasts the longest when it is surrounded by as little air as possible in the crisper.
And a bag is simply better suited for this than a Tupperware can. This is the only way to get rid of most of the air.
But if you don’t have a sealable bag from which the air can be squeezed out, you can simply store the tuber in the Tupperware. Make sure the Tupperware and tuber are completely dry (especially the cuts).
In any case, use the smallest suitable can to dab in as little air as possible with the ginger.
Never put anything else in the can, not even paper towels. The ginger should keep for several weeks in the vegetable compartment of the Tupperware.
With that, we’ve talked a lot between the lines about the shelf life of ginger. Let’s summarize the topic again. And then let’s see how you can make ginger last even longer (vodka isn’t the only solution!).
How long does ginger keep?
If you want to store ginger, the tuber can be kept for about a week without refrigeration. At higher temperatures, spoilage accelerates. Ginger can be kept for at least 3 weeks when stored in a refrigerator with exclusion of air.
And these 3 weeks are really a minimum. I was able to use a forgotten ginger after more than 2 months without any problems.
In the next few sections, we’ll take a quick look at how ginger can be kept in its various states, before we look at ginger products and foods with ginger (greetings in ginger water and shot).
How long does sliced ginger last?
Sliced ginger will become soft and wrinkled within a few days if left uncooled. Mold can also form at the interface. Refrigerated, sliced ginger can last for several weeks if wrapped in an airtight container.
How long does peeled ginger last?
Storing peeled ginger without refrigeration only works for a few days. Refrigerated for about a week. If the peeled ginger is placed in high-proof alcohol, it can stay fresh for many weeks or even months. Above all, pickling it in vodka is recommended, as it hardly changes the taste of the peeled ginger.
How long does ginger powder keep?
Ginger powder has a shelf life of around two to three years without any loss of taste. It’s probably still edible after that, provided the powder has been sealed airtight and stored in the dark. However, the aroma can be lost with old ginger powder.
How long does dried ginger keep?
If you want to store dried ginger, it can be dehydrated or candied cubes or slices. They have a maximum shelf life of two to three years. However, note the manufacturer’s information on the shelf life of dried ginger.
How long does ginger water last?
Freshly prepared ginger water will keep in the fridge for a maximum of one week. For a longer shelf life, the ginger water can be frozen.
How long does pressed ginger last?
Pressed ginger (juice and pulp) will keep in the fridge for two to three days. If left uncooled, pressed ginger spoils quickly.
How long does homemade ginger shot keep?
A homemade ginger shot will keep in the fridge for two to three days. About 30 ml per day is recommended on its own or as an addition to a smoothie or juice. Larger quantities should be frozen. A homemade ginger shot can be frozen as ice cubes and will keep for up to six months.
How long does pickled ginger keep?
Pickled ginger can last for many weeks or even months. What matters is what the ginger is put in. I have had the best experiences with vodka.
How do you recognize fresh ginger?
Fresh ginger is firm, almost hard. Its shell is smooth and not shriveled. The tuber feels heavy in relation to its size. If a fresh ginger root is cut, the flesh is bright yellow and smells aromatic.
How do you recognize bad, spoiled ginger?
Old ginger becomes soft and wrinkled. Sometimes the tuber starts to sprout. The flesh loses color and flavor as it ages. Bad or spoiled ginger has a rather gray flesh and hardly any of the characteristic ginger taste. The meat can be almost mushy and very moist.
What Happens When You Eat Bad Ginger?
Bad ginger that is gray or mushy should no longer be eaten. Because ginger that has gone bad is said to produce the substance safrole. Safrole is toxic to the liver and kidneys and suspected of being carcinogenic.
What does bad ginger taste like?
Ginger that has gone bad no longer has the characteristic taste of ginger and no longer tastes aromatic. If the flavor isn’t bland, it can be earthy and moldy.
Soft ginger: is it still edible?
If the ginger is soft but still has a strong aroma and yellow flesh, the root is edible without reservation.
Ginger wrinkled: can you eat it?
If the ginger is wrinkled but looks nice and yellow on the inside and smells aromatic, you can still eat the root.
How can you preserve ginger?
If you have more ginger than you can use in the next few days, you should preserve it immediately. Some ginger preservation methods can even keep the spice for many weeks, months, and even years!
Preserve ginger in honey
Ginger can be preserved with honey and transfers its aroma to the honey after about four to six weeks.
Preserve ginger in oil
Finely chopped ginger can be preserved in oil. The oil takes on the typical ginger aroma and can be used in different ways. Ginger preserved in oil needs to be kept in the fridge and will keep for a few weeks.
Preserve ginger without sugar
Ginger can be preserved without sugar in a number of ways: by dehydration, by pickling (e.g. in vodka), or by freezing.
Preserve ginger with sugar
Ginger can be preserved with sugar by candiing slices or cubes. Candied ginger has a shelf life of up to three years. Another way to preserve ginger with sugar is to make syrup.
Preserve the ginger shot
A ginger shot only lasts two to three days in the fridge and can be preserved for up to six months by freezing (e.g. as ice cubes).
Preserve ginger syrup
Ginger syrup made not hot with equal parts water and sugar will keep in a sealed jar or bottle in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
The shelf life can be extended if the syrup is made hot and a larger amount of sugar is used. With a 2:1 sugar to water ratio, ginger syrup can last up to six months.
Preserve ginger by pickling it
Ginger can be placed in various alcoholic and non-alcoholic liquids. As a rule, peeled ginger is pickled. The options are vodka, sherry, sake, rice wine or lemon juice.
Ginger pickled in lemon juice keeps for a few weeks, after which the liquid becomes milky. Ginger keeps the longest in vodka (over eight weeks).
Preserve grated ginger
Grated ginger will keep in an airtight container or bag in the refrigerator for three to four days. Grated ginger will keep longer if you freeze it. I prefer to freeze small ginger garlic paste ice cubes. As a result, I always have the perfect amount on hand and my fingers only smell once.
Preserve ginger juice
Fresh ginger juice will keep in the fridge for up to five days. The shelf life of ginger juice can be extended by freezing.
Conclusion: How long does ginger keep?
Storing ginger is not complicated. You only have to know how! Ginger ages faster if left uncooled. After about a week, the tuber becomes soft and wrinkled. The aroma and sharpness suffer as a result. On the other hand, ginger can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several weeks without any loss of taste. Ginger can also be preserved for a long time using other methods.