How to Preserve Ginger: Freezing, Dehydrating & Ginger Paste
Harvesting homegrown ginger is rewarding, but knowing how to store it properly is key to enjoying its fresh, spicy flavor long after harvest. Depending on how you want to use it in the future, there are several ways to freeze and preserve ginger. In this guide, I’ll walk you through a few easy and effective methods to preserve ginger, whether you want to keep it fresh or prepare it for long-term storage.
These methods work equally well for preserving turmeric. Learn how to grow turmeric in this article, and get information on growing ginger here.
What We’ll Cover:
1. Store Fresh Ginger in the Refrigerator or Freezer
After harvesting, rinse the ginger thoroughly and remove any shoots or large roots. The leaves can be saved for making herbal tea, so don’t throw them away!
For fresh storage:
- In the Refrigerator: Place unpeeled ginger in a reusable storage bag. It will last for about a month in the fridge.
- In the Freezer: For longer storage, pop the ginger in the freezer in a reusable bag. This way, it can last up to a year. Just grate or slice off what you need without thawing.
2. Preserve Ginger by Dehydrating
Dehydrated ginger is perfect for long-term storage and can be ground into ginger powder or used in teas and cooking. Here’s how to do it:
- Peel the Ginger: Depending on how fresh the ginger is, you may not need to peel it if the skin is thin.
- Slice the Ginger: Slice it thinly for even drying.
- Dehydrate: Place the slices in a dehydrator at 95°F (35°C) for 8-12 hours or until they are crisp and break when bent. I recommend using a high-quality dehydrator like this one from Amazon.
Once dried, store your dehydrated slices in a glass jar with an airtight lid to keep moisture out.
Grinding Ginger Into Powder
For those who enjoy using ground ginger in recipes, you can process small batches of your dehydrated slices into powder:
- Use a blender or spice grinder to grind only a small amount at a time. The ginger powder loses its potency over time, so only grind as much as you’ll use in the near future.
3. Make and Freeze Ginger Paste
For an easy, ready-to-use option, ginger paste is another excellent way to preserve your harvest.
- Peel and Process: Peeling may be unnecessary if ginger is young and fresh. Add the peeled ginger to a blender (this is the blender I use) with a small amount of water.
- Blend: Pulse the mixture until it becomes smooth and forms a paste.
- Freeze in Ice Cube Trays: Pour the ginger paste into herb or ice cube trays for easy portioning. Once frozen, store the cubes in freezer bags for up to a year.
These frozen cubes are perfect for adding ginger flavor to curries, soups, or smoothies whenever you need a quick flavor hit.
By preserving your ginger using these simple methods, you can ensure that you’ll always have fresh, flavorful ginger on hand, no matter the time of year. Whether you keep it fresh, dehydrated, or frozen, each method allows you to enjoy the best of your harvest while maintaining the quality and taste of the ginger.
How to Preserve Ginger (Freezing, Dehydrating, & Ginger Paste)
Equipment
Method
- In the Refrigerator—Store whole, washed, unpeeled ginger in a reusable bag or container in the fridge, where it will stay fresh for up to a month.
- In the Freezer—For long-term storage, freeze washed ginger in a reusable bag. Frozen ginger keeps well for up to a year and can be grated or sliced straight from the freezer, no thawing needed.
- Peel the ginger if needed—very fresh ginger with thin skin can be left unpeeled.
- Cut the ginger into thin, even slices to ensure it dries evenly.
- Arrange the slices in a single layer in a dehydrator and dry at 95°F (35°C) for 8–12 hours, or until the pieces are fully crisp and snap when bent.
- Store your dehydrated slices in a glass jar with an airtight lid to keep moisture out.
- Optional: Use a blender or spice grinder to grind a small amount of dehydrated ginger. The ginger powder loses its potency over time, so only grind as much as you’ll use in the near future.
- Peel the ginger if needed—young, fresh ginger with thin skin can be left unpeeled. Place the ginger into a blender with a small amount of water.
- Pulse until the ginger is completely smooth and forms a thick paste.
- Spoon the ginger paste into herb or ice cube trays for easy portions. Once frozen, transfer the cubes to freezer bags and store for up to one year.
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