How to Use Fresh Ginger Root

Many Asian dishes call for fresh ginger root, which is available at many supermarkets and natural foods stores. Peeling fresh ginger is deceptively easy if you follow a few rules.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Fresh ginger root has a very thin, light brown skin that must be removed. Although it's easiest to peel when the root is frozen, you can also quickly remove the skin quickly from a fresh piece of ginger root. Simply slice off as much as you think you'll need and then run a thin-lipped teaspoon over the edge of the root. The skin will come right off in ribbons.

2. Once the skin is removed, slice the root into thin coins. The coins can be further sliced into matchsticks or a fine dice.

3. You can also add ginger flavor without any texture by juicing the root. Extract juice from a small piece of ginger by putting it through a garlic press. A juicer can handle much bigger chunks and extra juice can be frozen in ice cube trays.

Tips & Warnings

• Fresh ginger will keep for several weeks in the refrigerator or several months in the freezer. Since freezing makes it easier to peel, slice and crush, you might as well freeze it as soon as you buy it.