This tutorial will teach you how to peel ginger in easy steps for your everyday cooking and usage. peeling ginger can be tricky, no thanks to all the rough nobs and bumps on its root. This guide brings you an easy way to efficiently carry out this task.
What is Ginger?
Ginger is a tropical flowering plant. Classified as a member of the Zingiberaceae family, it is widely grown around the world. Scientifically, its name is Zingiber officinale.
The leafy plant grows up to 3 feet tall and is known for its culinary importance. Ginger’s root is the part used as a spice or as a cure.
Talking about its history, ginger has been around for thousands of years. Ancient records describe it for its health benefits and as a medicine. Originally, it grew in parts of Southeast Asia.
One tablespoon of fresh ginger has:
- 4.8 calories
- 1.07g of carbohydrates
- 0.12g of dietary fiber
- 0.11g of protein
- 0.05g of fat
- 0.1g sugar
How to Peel Ginger Easily
I know ginger can make you feel like rocket science when it comes to peeling it because of how it is shaped. Mostly, you will find yourself wasting lots of it while completing this task. So I bring you a step-by-step guide to make the process easier
The spoon saves the day
The safest way to peel ginger easily is with a spoon, not only does it save time but it also reduces waste.
- Rinse the ginger: this is simple, wash it under running tap water if you wish or in a bowl of water, changing it until it is clean. Pat dry with a kitchen towel or a kitchen paper towel or leave to air dry if time is not of the essence
- Hold a spoon (preferably a teaspoon) in one hand and the ginger in the other, holding it tightly in between your palm or fingers
- peel the skin off the ginger using the edge of the spoon to peel it from top to bottom in a lengthwise movement. Move the ginger around and continue to peel until the skin is all off.
Tip: Scrape away from yourself to prevent hurting your fingers.
How to Peel Ginger with a Paring Knife or a Vegetable Peeler?
I personally prefer peeling with a spoon but you can also use a paring knife or a vegetable peeler.
- For the paring knife, hold the ginger vertically on the cutting board and peel from top to the bottom outwards (don’t peel towards yourself). This ensures that your fingers are safe.
- If you are using a peeler, hold the ginger in one hand and the peeler in the other. Just like you do with the spoon, peel it in the direction away from your body.
Now that you are done with peeling, you can cut the ginger into your desired shape and size.
Tip: To avoid the loss of ginger, use a spoon for peeling. A paring knife can cause lots of wastage.
Uses
Ginger doesn’t have the most delicious taste, but its culinary importance is what really matters. It is mostly used in Asian dishes and drinks.
I personally like to use ginger for sauces, teas, smoothies, and glazes to brighten up my dish. You can also make the famous apple-ginger kombucha. Ginger gives the tea a warm flavor and the apple enhances the drink’s cider-like taste.
Another favorite of mine is the Asian slaw dressing ginger slaw. Oh, you will love this, just mix up some chopped chili, cabbage, carrots, onions, lime juice, and grated ginger, to come up with a delicious tangy side dish.
With its versatility and health benefits, ginger is anything but limited in usage. So find your perfect ginger recipe and see the wonders it can perform.
Benefits of Ginger
Besides its uses in your kitchen, ginger is known for its health benefits.
- Its antibacterial qualities keep your mouth healthy
- Great in fighting nausea
- Soothes sore muscles (doesn’t heal completely just numbs the pain)
- Helps with cholesterol levels
- Improves digestion
- Lowers blood sugar (makes your body use insulin better)
These were some of the many health benefits of ginger. So having a balanced ginger intake can be great for your health.
FAQs
Do you need to peel ginger
Although most people will tell you to peel ginger before use, it isn’t totally necessary.
In my personal experience, I have noticed very little difference in the taste between the peeled and unpeeled ginger. Peeling ginger takes a lot of time and can also result in loss. Moreover, ginger skin is harmless and packed with nutrients, so why worry about it? For the dirt on the skin, you can just scrub it off and wash it under clean running water.
However, if your ginger is old and has wrinkly not-so-fresh skin, that is the only time I suggest you peel it.
How to store peeled ginger
Peeled ginger can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks in an airtight container or the freezer for a longer period of time. If storing in the freezer, you can blend it into a paste or chop it finely then add it to an ice tray so that it is easy to use when needed.
Tip: you can freeze whole ginger, frozen ginger grates well.
Alternatively, cut the ginger into desired shapes and sizes, add to a mason jar or any other recycled jar and cover with vodka, sherry, or any other spirit of choice and keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If the alcohol starts to look cloudy, that’s an indication of bacterial growth in the container.
Do you wash ginger before peeling?
It is a good practice to always wash your fruit and veggies before you do anything with them. So yes, you need to wash your ginger before peeling. Make sure you let it dry completely before peeling to avoid accidents.
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How to Peel Ginger Easily
Equipment
- spoon, pairing knife or vegetable peeler
Ingredients
- 1 Ginger root
Instructions
Spoon method
- Wash the under-running tap water and pat dry with a kitchen towel or a kitchen paper towel, you can leave to air dry if time is not of the essence
- Hold a spoon in one hand and the ginger in the other, holding it tightly in between your palm or fingers
- Peel the skin off the ginger using the edge of the spoon to scrape it from top to bottom in a lengthwise movement. Move the ginger around and continue to peel until the skin is all off. Cut the ginger into your desired shapes and sizes or freeze whole.
- Tip: Scrape away from yourself to prevent hurting your fingers.
Paring Knife and Vegetable Peeler Method
- For the paring knife, hold the ginger vertically on the cutting board and peel from top to the bottom outwards (don’t peel towards yourself). This ensures that your fingers are safe.
- If you are using a peeler, hold the ginger in one hand and the peeler in the other. Just like you do with the spoon, peel it in the direction away from your body.
- Cut the ginger into your desired shapes and sizes.
- Tip: To avoid the loss of ginger, use a spoon for peeling. Using a paring knife or peeler can cause lots of wastage.
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