From classic holiday gingerbread cookies to Asian-inspired recipes such as this Easy Moo Shu Pork Stir-Fry, ginger adds subtle spice, warmth, and heat to both sweet and savory dishes. Both fresh gingerroot and ground ginger powder have plenty of health benefits; ginger is a popular digestive and a cup of freshly brewed ginger tea can help cure nausea and stomachaches. Since recipes usually call for one or the other, its important to understand the the difference between fresh and ground ginger, as well as whether or not theyre interchangeable. Well also explain where crystallized ginger comes into play.
Herbal medicine isn’t my forte, but it’s worth mentioning that ginger has plenty of health benefits! In its natural form, the root is light brown and somewhat knobby. But this spice is available as dry powdered ginger as well.
Crystallized Ginger
Candied or crystallized ginger is made by boiling peeled, sliced ginger with water until the ginger is tender. Its then cooked with sugar until the ginger becomes translucent and crystallized. You can snack on crystallized ginger, use it as a garnish on cookies or ice cream sundaes, or toss it with rice and roasted vegetables. It should not be used as a substitute for fresh or ground ginger.
Ah, ginger! My favorite wonder food. Add a little to honey and lemon tea to help fight a cold. Use it to spice up a stir fry. Make the most amazing gingerbread by including some grated fresh ginger in the batter. Or if you happen to have a lot of ginger to use up, you can candy it.
The easiest way to grate ginger is to keep a knob of ginger wrapped in plastic in your freezer. When you need some grated ginger, pull it out of the freezer, scrape away the peel (if you want, its not really necessary) of the area you want to grate, and grate the ginger with a microplane grater. Like we do when we slice ginger, grate across the grain of the fibers of the ginger.
10 Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger
FAQ
Do you have to peel ginger?
What should fresh ginger look like?
What does fresh ginger look like?
What Does Fresh Ginger Look Like: Light tan, smooth skin without major blemishes or dark spots. Skin wraps snugly around the flesh, often with a slight shine indicating freshness. Feels firm when squeezed, showing it’s still moist and hasn’t dried out. What Does Bad Ginger Look Like: Darkens in color, shifting from light tan to a brownish hue.
How to cook ginger?
For the tea, cut ginger into pieces of approximately two centimeters and place with water in the fire. Let it boil for eight to ten minutes. The proportion varies, but you can use 5 grams for each liter.
What does bad Ginger look like?
What Does Bad Ginger Look Like: Darkens in color, shifting from light tan to a brownish hue. The presence of mold can appear as fuzzy spots in white, green, or black. Becomes soft or spongy to the touch, indicating it’s starting to decay. Dark spots that are mushy and may start to smell indicate rotten ginger.
What does fresh ginger smell like?
Fresh ginger should be firm, light-yellow tan, and emit a sharp, sweet, peppery scent. If you spot any mold or dark spots, or if your ginger gives off an unusual odor, it’s time to toss it out. Moldy ginger can be a real letdown, especially when you’re in the middle of cooking.