How to freeze ginger in the freezer at home, is it possible?

People often use ginger root to treat various diseases. Some of them have problems with long-term storage of the plant, as it quickly deteriorates. To keep the root for a long time, it is recommended to freeze the ginger. However, before you do this, you should familiarize yourself with the features of storing and freezing the roots of this herb.

How to choose ginger?

Before you start freezing fresh ginger root, you need to figure out how to choose this plant correctly. When choosing, pay special attention to the root fracture. It is recommended to break off a small piece from it and examine it carefully. Good ginger will begin to release juice at the break point and develop a bright aroma. You should also pay attention to the color of the root, which varies. Asian ginger varieties have roots that are golden in color and have a matte tint. It is recommended to buy varieties from Asia, as they last longer than others.

The choice of ginger is also influenced by the aroma that this plant gives off. Therefore, when choosing, be sure to smell the roots to make sure that they do not smell of mold or dampness. Rhizomes with such a smell cannot be stored for a long time, as they will quickly deteriorate.

Some people are wondering whether it is possible to freeze ginger with fresh shoots. This should not be done, and therefore, when choosing, carefully inspect the roots for the presence of fresh buds or shoots. Their presence indicates that the plant is expired and cannot be used.

How to peel ginger?

Before use, any ginger root is peeled. There are three main methods for cleaning a plant:

• With a spoon. This is the most popular and simple method, which is used when working with a well-ripened root. Using this method, only the top layer of the peel is removed, while the nutritious pulp remains intact. When cleaning, pay special attention to the depth of impact of the spoon, as it should be insignificant.
• With a knife. This method is used for peeling ripened and unripe foods that cannot be peeled with a spoon.For such work, it is recommended to use the sharpest possible knife and therefore you should sharpen it before working with ginger.
• Metal wool. When cleaning, you should use only a new washcloth that has not been used anywhere before. To clean the plant, place it in a container of cold water for 5 minutes. Then the root is carefully rubbed with a washcloth. After 15–20 minutes, the surface will be completely cleared of peel.

What kind of ginger can be stored?

Most people think that absolutely any ginger can be stored for a long time. However, not all plants are suitable for freezing in the freezer. When buying ginger root on the market, you will have to carefully examine its external condition. Only elastic and dense roots, the surface of which is covered with a thin peel, are suitable for storage.

Rhizomes with dry skin should not be stored for storage, as this indicates that the product is not fresh. Also, wilting and shriveled plants should not be used for storage.

The surface of ginger stored for storage should not be covered with dark spots. Darkening of the peel appears if the product has been stored in a damp place for a long time. Such plants should not be placed in the freezer or stored in the refrigerator.

What to freeze in?

Before you start freezing a product, you need to figure out what exactly is best to freeze it. There are two main ways storing ginger roots.

In the vegetable compartment

When using this method, the fresh plant is placed in tightly sealed bags, which are most often used to preserve food. After placing all the roots for freezing, they try to release the maximum amount of air from the bags for better preservation of the products.

If you don’t have special bags for storing vegetables at home, you will have to use regular paper bags instead. The roots are placed in paper bags so that there are no uncovered areas left on them.

In the freezer

When storing the root in the freezer, it is better to wrap it in special food grade film. It does not allow air to pass through, so the product is stored much longer. The shelf life in film placed in the freezer is 2-3 months. To keep the ginger root for several weeks longer, it is wrapped in food foil.

Freezing

Many housewives are interested in how to freeze ginger for the winter and why exactly this is done. Freezing is carried out to preserve the product so that in winter it can be used to prepare delicious dishes or medicinal infusions for the treatment of diseases. By preserving the product in small portions by freezing, it will retain all the beneficial substances and pleasant aroma for a long time.

After defrosting, ginger root will be as beneficial as before freezing.

Today, there are three main ways to freeze ginger root, which will allow you to store it for several months.

Freezing the whole root

This method of storing the product is popular among housewives, as it is considered the simplest. To freeze ginger in the freezer, select roots that do not contain signs of mold or rot on their surface. The moisture content and cleanliness of the spine are also determined - it should not be wet. If there are dirty spots on the surface of the product, they must be removed.

All products selected for storage must be placed in an airtight container or cling film.Then the wrapped roots are placed in bags, which are used specifically for freezing vegetables or fruits. Each bag contains no more than two large roots.

When all the peeled ginger is placed in bags, it is placed in the freezer. If you need to take a ginger root during storage, one of them is taken out of the bag, defrosted and used for its intended purpose.

Freezing Chopped Ginger Root

Some housewives are interested in whether chopped ginger can be frozen in the freezer. It’s definitely possible, since storing a chopped product will allow you to save even large roots that would not fit in a bag uncut.

For freezing, select a large ginger root with a soft peel. Chopped and unpeeled products should not be placed in the freezer, and therefore all rhizomes must be thoroughly peeled before storage. If you place a plant with its skin in the refrigerator, it will spoil faster and rot.

When all the roots are peeled, they are cut into small pieces about three centimeters long. You can also cut them crosswise to make pieces in the form of small circles. Place all the cut pieces into bags, pack them tightly and release all excess air from the bags. Chopped ginger can be stored in the freezer for about two months.

Freezing grated ginger

Is it possible to freeze grated ginger at home? It’s definitely possible, since some claim that the grated product lasts longer than the whole product.

Before placing in the freezer, the ginger selected for storage will have to be completely peeled and grated with a food processor or a regular grater.

Then the grated product is laid out in small portions on food foil and completely covered with cling film.It is recommended to hermetically cover the plant with film to prevent air from getting under it. Some people use regular cellophane bags instead of foil and film. In this case, the air must also be released from each bag so that the product does not deteriorate during storage.

Frozen grated ginger does not lose its beneficial properties, and therefore it is often used to create medicinal decoctions and tinctures.

How to freeze ginger for long-term storage?

Freezing is considered the safest and most effective method of storing most vegetables, fruits and other plants. All frozen foods remain healthy and do not lose their properties or nutritional value. People who bought ginger root or grow it themselves in the garden are interested in how to freeze ginger at home so that it can be stored longer.

To extend the shelf life, it is recommended to place the product in the freezer not entirely, but in small portions. Therefore, the ginger is carefully cut into thin layers and placed in the freezer at a distance of 5–7 cm. When all the pieces are frozen, they are collected and placed in a plastic bag. Ginger roots, cut into small layers, will be stored for at least three months.

Shelf life when frozen

The shelf life for storing ginger differs from the chosen method of freezing it. The product that is frozen in its entirety is preserved the least. In this case, it will keep for about a month if you pack it properly and put it in the freezer. If the root is not packaged correctly, the shelf life may be much shorter.

To increase the shelf life of ginger roots, it is recommended to cut it into pieces before freezing.Chopped roots will retain their beneficial properties for 2-3 months.

How to defrost correctly?

Before using ginger, be sure to completely defrost it. To do this, frozen foods are removed from the freezer and taken out of the bags in which they are placed. Then the plant is placed in a small container and left for 1–3 hours in a room with a temperature of about 20 degrees.

To speed up defrosting, place the container with ginger in a small saucepan with warm water. In this case, the frozen product will defrost in 15–20 minutes.

After defrosting, ginger root can be cut and used in cooking or in the preparation of medicinal preparations.

Conclusion

Ginger root is popular among housewives and therefore many of them are interested in how to store it correctly. To store ginger root for a long time, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the features of freezing it at home.