How Long Can Ginger Last In The Fridge?
A whole, unpeeled ginger can last for about two months in the fridge but only if certain protocol is followed. Make sure to place them in an airtight bag before placing them in the fridge as it keeps the air and moisture out, preventing mold from growing on the ginger.
Just as you would gauge the shelf life of celery in your refrigerator, be aware that there are a lot of ways you can prep your ginger for storage, and it is all about how you intend on using it. While ginger has a relatively long shelf life, using the proper methods is important for keeping your ginger fresh, whether you are planning to keep it in the refrigerator, freezer, or on the counter, so that it does not spoil or get moldy. Fortunately, if you use the proper methods, ginger can safely be stored under several conditions that will keep it fresh for anywhere from one week to a few months.
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Keeping your ginger in a tight-sealed container, a Ziploc bag, or even wrapped tightly in plastic wrap keeps it fresh for far longer than sitting out in room temperature. To keep your ginger fresh for a longer period of time, be sure to purchase it fresh at your grocery store.
| Benefits | Shelf life |
| Fights Germs | In refrigerator Up to 2 months |
| Lower blood sugar level | In zip lock bag Up to 1 month |
| Soothes sore muscles | At room temperature1week |
If you would like to keep the ginger longer, you can make a paste of them and store them in your freezer. When I get a big bag of ginger, I will store a few of them in the fridge, but make a paste out of the rest of it and freeze for later.
Refrigeration keeps ginger roots, as well as the ginger paste, nice and steady for a very long time, far longer than keeping it in your pantry. Once you have stored the ginger root, whether you choose to refrigerate, freeze, or store in the pantry, watch for it as it approaches the end of its shelf life to make sure that it has not started spoiling.
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For stored ginger, keep the root the way it is, do not peel it off and do not wash it, and put it in a dish or another outdoor container. Place whole ginger roots (whether peeled or not) into a plastic freezer bag, remove all the air, and freeze.
To store unpeeled ginger in the freezer, place ginger in a fully dry, resealable plastic bag, remove as much air as possible, and seal the bag. To store ginger in the freezer, you can cover the entire ginger with plastic wrap, or you can put ginger into a resealable plastic bag and release all of the air in there before placing it into your fridges vegetable drawer. If you need a little more time to finish the ginger, then you should store it in the refrigerator, skin-on (it will last longer in the zipper-top bag).
You can store a piece of ginger in the freezer for up to a month, provided that you periodically check it to ensure that it is still solid and has not developed mould. The resulting mean ginger does not keep as long on the counter, nor does it last as long as the unpeeled ginger that is kept in the refrigerator, but keeping it in a fridge or freezer still extends its freshness.
If you want to be proactive, you can also first peeled the root of unpeeled ginger, and then store it like directed, but ginger will not last quite as long. When stored refrigerated in a dry, sealed bag with the air squeezed out, the unpeeled ginger will last for one month; peeled or grated ginger, however, will last for just two or three weeks. Stored that way, unpeeled ginger can last for months in the freezer, although flavors begin to wane at about the six-month mark.
Ginger paste soaked in sunflower seed oil will keep fresh for one month in the fridge, and about three months in the freezer. Peeled, crushed/minced ginger will spoil in just a few hours if stored in a pantry because of the loss of moisture and flavour. When using your ginger, and have some leftover peels or pieces for storage, put these into a glass jar with some dried sherry to prolong its shelf life.
If you use chopped ginger nearly daily, cut up lots of it and store it in a sealed container that fits into a glass jar. You can store ginger either at room temperature or in the fridge in an airtight container, leaving the skin on, to maximize gingers shelf life. To prolong gingers shelf life, you are best off keeping raw roots in their uncorked, brown skin intact in a sealed brown bag in your vegetable drawer in the fridge.
If you have peeled or cut off more ginger than necessary, you can store the ginger in a dry sherry jar or vodka (note that ginger stored in dry sherry picks up a bit of its flavour). Before using preserved ginger in this manner, be sure to wash it thoroughly and pat it dry to avoid getting any preserved liquid flavors into your recipes.
If you buy your ginger preserved from a shelf at a grocery store, you can leave it in your pantry or cabinet until you are ready to use it. Ginger Paste lasts for 6-8 months in the pantry when not opened, but once opened, it lasts for a month if stored in the fridge.
When it comes to ginger, a little goes a long way in terms of flavour, so you will want to store it properly in order for it to last. It is important to select fresh ginger that is available at your grocery store in order to ensure that it will last.
You can place your entire packet of powdered ginger into a resealable freezer bag before keeping it in your pantry or kitchen cupboard. Remember to store the powdered ginger in the pantry, where it is kept dry, while keeping fresh ginger in the refrigerator or freezer, which is ideal for preserving.
If you like ginger tea or you need fresh ginger for grating to make dishes, keep root stock in your refrigerator, be it ginger ginseng or root ginger. Simply grate as much ginger as you need (it is actually easier to grate it from frozen using the Microplane) and return the whole ginger root to the freezer, making sure you wring out any air. Simply drop the peeled ginger into one of your favourite spirits, like vodka or whiskey, then leave the one you love sitting in the freezer.
How do you know if ginger has gone bad?
If the ginger becomes mushy or squishy, it should be discarded because fresh ginger is fairly solid to the touch. The same applies if the flesh gradually changes from its characteristic bright yellow color to a dark yellow or grey hue. Simply put, you should be able to tell whether the flesh is okay or not once you have seen it.
How do you keep ginger fresh in the fridge?
It’s preferable to keep ginger whole and with the skin on in the refrigerator. Although cut ginger can be kept in the refrigerator, its shelf life will be reduced. Put your ginger in a freezer bag, remove the majority of the air, and store it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator to extend its shelf life.
Does ginger spoil in the fridge?
Fresh ginger and ginger root are interchangeable terms. If you keep them in the refrigerator, they can last for a month or two. Ginger root can be frozen for two to three months if you form a paste out of it. However, the ginger root will begin to decay if left at room temperature for a week.