What does it mean to mince ginger?

Mincing is the smallest type of cut, smaller than dicing, and using a Microplane is the best way to mince ginger. When minced, the flavor of the fresh ginger is much stronger than if it was diced. It also means that it combines easily with the other ingredients and cooks through quickly .

Is it better to grate or mince ginger?

Grating is actually the most traditional way to prepare ginger for a recipe. To grate and to mince produce very similar results, but not identical. Grating usually produces a more pulpy ingredient, while minced ginger consists of tiny, but distinctive little cubes . Grated fresh ginger is more intense in flavor.

Do you wash ginger before peeling?

Dana emphasized that the peel should be washed thoroughly before you use it , just like any produce with edible skin. And yep, the skin is tough and fibrous so consider how you're going to use that unpeeled ginger.

Can you use a grater to mince ginger?

Use a microplane or grater to mince the ginger . A microplane is like a very fine grater, and is often used for zesting. However, if you don't have a microplane, a grater will work just as well. This method often produces a lot of ginger juice, so you will want to make sure to do it over a bowl or plate.

What happens if you don't peel ginger?

No, You Don't Need to Peel Ginger When grating, most of the skin kind of comes off on its own and if it comes off in larger pieces, I simply remove it from the grated flesh. If it doesn't and gets mixed into the flesh, I don't sweat it because it's so fine, it won't affect whatever I am preparing.

Are ground ginger and minced ginger the same?

The flavor of ground ginger is much more potent than fresh ginger. According to McCormick, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger is the equivalent of one teaspoon of peeled and grated fresh ginger . However, the flavor in the finished dish will not taste exactly the same so don't make the swap unless you're in a pinch.

How long does homemade minced ginger last?

Some people will chop an entire piece of ginger to make meal prepping more efficient. While this step may save some time in the kitchen, keep in mind that minced ginger will only last for about a week in a sealed air-tight container in the fridge.

Can you use a zester to mince ginger?

For years I've used the rasp-style Microplane zester-grater, which works great to cut through the root's tough fibers . But within a few months those little rectangular teeth become so dull they stop cutting and start mashing. Instead of a nice pile of grated ginger I end up with juicy mush.

Is ground ginger the same as fresh?

The flavor of ground ginger is much more potent than fresh ginger. According to McCormick, ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger is the equivalent of one teaspoon of peeled and grated fresh ginger .

How To Peel and Mince Fresh Ginger (2024)

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Dana Velden

Dana Velden's first book, Finding Yourself in the Kitchen: Kitchen Meditations and Inspired Recipes from a Mindful Cook (Rodale Books) is available where ever books are sold. She lives in Oakland, CA.

updated Sep 6, 2022

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Fresh ginger is a staple in my kitchen. It is an extremely versatile ingredient that shows up in any course, from savory to sweet, be it main, beverage, dessert, or salad. It can even be medicine — hot ginger tea with lemon, honey and brandy will cure what ails you! In short, fresh ginger is essential to my cooking. Read on for my methods for peeling and mincing fresh ginger.

Fresh ginger is an essential item in any pantry and is easy to achieve! (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

First, a side note: Fresh ginger is technically a rhizome but common parlance is to call it a root, so I will do so here.

What to Look for When Buying a Ginger

When purchasing fresh ginger, look for firm, moist roots that feel heavy for their size. There will often be a rough, dried patch where a section of the root was cut or broken off. No need to worry about that, but do not purchase if the root itself is dried and shriveled. If you are shopping for ginger and only need a small amount, it is OK to break off what you need (often recipes charmingly call for a ‘thumbs worth’ of ginger) but be sure that what you are leaving behind is desirable for the next shopper.

Storing Ginger

Ginger will be OK on your kitchen counter for a few days but if you want to store it longer, wrap it in paper towels and then in plastic and keep it in your refrigerator’s crisper. It can also be frozen if tightly wrapped in plastic. Many people peel and mince their ginger first before freezing it, for added convenience.

Where to Buy Ginger

Ginger does have a season, despite the fact that we see it year-round in most markets. Young ginger can be found in the spring, usually in Asian markets and should be experienced! It isn’t as strong as the older grocery store ginger. It has a fresh lively taste and a less fibrous texture, with hardly any skin so it doesn’t need to be peeled (see below.)

Ways to Mince Ginger

Fresh ginger doesn’t always have to be peeled, even though you will encounter this instruction in most recipes. If the ginger is young and the skin is very fine and clings to the root, or if it is going to be finely chopped and mixed in with many other things, you can skip the peeling step. Peel only when you have aesthetic concerns or if you’re chopping the ginger in a large dice and you don’t want the texture of the skin to be experienced.

I prefer the spoon method for peeling ginger, but have included the peeler method as an alternative. I do not recommend peeling your ginger with a knife unless you are very skilled and dexterous with your knife. Even then you will take a fair amount of the ginger flesh along with the peel. The truth is, the spoon method will scrape off only the peel and is just as quick!

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How To Peel and Mince Ginger

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

Fresh ginger

Equipment

Cutting board
Spoon, preferably one with a thin edge
Vegetable peeler
Large sharp knife

Instructions

Peeling ginger with a spoon. Using the edge of the spoon with the convex of the bowl facing towards you, scrape away the ginger's papery skin using firm, downward strokes. You can anchor the root on a cutting board or hold it in your other hand, either will work. Scrape away as much as needed from the larger root (the rest of the root will give you a nice 'handle' to steady the process) or the whole piece if that's what's needed. The spoon will make it easier to work your way over and around all the little nubs. With a spoon, pretty much just the skin will be removed.
Peeling ginger with a vegetable peeler. In the same way you would use the spoon, peel the skin from the root. You will need a little more caution here as you can potentially cut yourself with the peeler and you will also notice that you are taking off some of the flesh. The peeler should be able to handle the bumps and nubs but again, use caution as this is the classic place to slip and cut yourself.
Mincing ginger by hand. Cut the ginger into coins. Using a large, sharp knife, cut the peeled ginger crosswise into coins. The thickness of the coins will determine how fine your mince will be: thinner coins will yield a finer mince. Cut the coins into matchsticks and then tiny cubes. Stack a few coins up. Do not make too high of a pile as the coins can easily slip when cutting and cause you to loose control of your knife. Cut the matchstick crosswise into a mince. Repeat with remaining coins.
Chop again if needed. I sometimes take my knife and chop it while moving it through the whole pile to chop any bigger pieces that I may have missed the first time. This is sometimes called 'running your knife through.'
Mincing ginger on the microplane. The microplane is an excellent tool if you want superfine, even pureed, ginger. It will often create some juice, so be sure to use it over a plate or bowl. Simply rub your ginger on the microplane using a fair amount of pressure, being cautious as you get to the end of your piece as you can easily scrape your fingers on its razor sharp surface. You may have to scrape the ginger pulp off of the back of the microplane or give it a firm whack to dislodge the ginger. This method and its results are similar to what you would get if you used a traditional asian ginger grater.

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(Images: Dana Velden)

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