Ginger is increasingly used in the preparation of exotic and traditional dishes, added to tea, and serves as the basis for preparing refreshing drinks. At the same time, many housewives today do not know how to peel ginger, thereby unknowingly depriving themselves of an impressive portion of useful components and essential oils.
These substances are found in the precious pulp, close to the peel, so choosing the right tool is very important. Some people still cannot decide whether it is necessary to get rid of the root skin at all, if it is so thin and capricious. As practice shows, the correct answer to these questions is the key to obtaining the desired taste and aroma of the dish.
Description of the qualities of ginger
Ginger is a cultivated plant native to Asia, Africa and the Americas . This is a low-calorie product - a total of 80 calories per 100 g. Ginger contains a large amount of essential oils, for this reason it is very fragrant, contains amino acids, various vitamins and other substances. Without exception, all components renew the digestive system and improve gastric secretion. In addition, ginger (or its root) strengthens the immune system and promotes fat burning. In folk medicine, it is often used as a way to get rid of colds.
Modern medical science has learned to make preparations from the root. Based on it, a medicine was created for asthma, gallbladder diseases, kidney diseases and other diseases. The root has a great effect on the cardiovascular system, reduces cholesterol in the blood and improves memory.
The female body needs this root, as it relieves pain during the menstrual cycle, eliminates signs of toxicosis during pregnancy, nausea during motion sickness, and interferes with the development of cancer cells. For this reason, it should be used, regardless of whether you need to lose weight or simply improve your health. The product is used both in main dishes and in confectionery products.
Do I need to peel ginger for tea and other drinks?
In some cases, ginger root requires mandatory cleaning, in others, you can do without it. To understand what to do in which situation, you need to take into account the following points:
- The peel layer not only provides a protective covering for the root, it also collects dirt. For this reason, it is better to clean a product that will be consumed directly, even if it is supposed to be heat treated.
- Despite the fact that many chefs advise using an uncleaned product to make tea, this can negatively affect the final result. If you don’t want to completely remove the skin, you should at least rub it thoroughly with the thick side of a clean dishwashing sponge.
Tip: When buying ginger, you need to choose whole roots without cuts, cracks or even scratches. As the product is consumed, its cut should be lubricated with a thin layer of vegetable oil and covered with cling film. This will protect the component from weathering of essential oils and extend its shelf life.
- But for pickling and candying, ginger is not peeled. That is why the root processed in this way turns out to be the most fragrant. By the way, the candied product can be used to brew tea.
- There is one more important rule - ginger should be peeled only in the amount that you plan to use at a particular time. You should not remove the skin in advance; without it, the product will quickly lose a significant part of its beneficial substances and unusual aroma.
Today in stores you can find special ginger slices for tea, compotes and lemonades. Despite the obvious ease of use, it is better to avoid such a product. Even if the products are stored in a vacuum, there are almost no useful substances in them, and most likely they will not have the required aroma.
Effective cleaning technology
Many people want to know how to peel ginger at home. Peeling ginger begins with preparing the root vegetables. They should be washed thoroughly in water and dried. Next, take a sharp knife and carefully cut off the winding part of the formation of all sprouts and branches. Small ones can be thrown away, large ones will be used for cleaning.
Ginger root can be peeled using one of the following methods:
- With a spoon. During the cleaning period, only the crust itself is removed, and the pulp is not touched. The root is pressed in one hand, and the spoon in the other, the thumb should be placed on the convex side of the device. You need to scratch the skin with confident movements, acting exactly in one direction.
- Using sponges. The dishwashing sponge should be a new, thin wire. The ginger is placed in a container with cool water, and after a minute they begin to rub the surface of the product. Only if this approach does not bring the expected result can you rub harder. The main thing is not to cut off the root in some areas, depriving them of aromatic oils.
- With a thick brush. Use a toothbrush with the maximum degree of hardness. Place the ginger root under cool running water and lightly peel off the skin using vigorous movements. This may take a long time, but the result will be the best.
How to use ginger root at home?
At home, ginger root is a useful find in both fresh and dried form. It can be added to meat dishes, soups or baked goods.
Gingerbread and soy-ginger marinades are especially popular today. Ginger is also useful in canning.
But it is worth noting that ginger root is most often used to make tea. This drink improves performance, stimulates brain function, and actively fights colds.
True, in order to properly prepare tea with ginger, you need to know some tricks.
History and beneficial properties of ginger root:
Storage and use for weight loss
Not everyone knows how to properly peel ginger. The main thing is that it retains all amino acids, vitamins and minerals. The root contains a lot of iron, phosphorus and magnesium. Dried roots can be placed in the refrigerator or cool place, or placed in the freezer. There are many medicinal plants in the world that help restore normal functioning of the body.
However, there are also plants that can help lose weight and restore metabolic processes in the body. In order to lose weight, the root can be added to coffee. To do this, the finished root should be crushed so that it looks like flour. Put 1 teaspoon of crushed root and 1 teaspoon of coffee into an ordinary cup, stir and fill the container with hot water. After this, the coffee must be left for 10 minutes. To keep the coffee hot, you can cover it. You can add granulated sugar and milk to coffee.
Another way , quite simple. Cut the processed roots into thin rings, place in a thermos and fill with hot water. Leave for 30 minutes. This tea should be taken 15-20 minutes before meals. Prepare boiling water and pour some water into a container, add ginger and cover. Leave for 20 minutes. Any of these recipes can be supplemented with cloves or rose hips, it all depends on the person’s preferences and taste.
What to do if the skin on the root is very thick?
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Tip: When buying ginger, you need to choose whole roots without cuts, cracks or even scratches. As the product is consumed, its cut should be lubricated with a thin layer of vegetable oil and covered with cling film. This will protect the component from weathering of essential oils and extend its shelf life.
Sometimes the above methods do not help. This usually happens because the root was harvested too early or was improperly stored. In this case, you should try these cleaning options:
To prepare pickled or candied ginger, as well as to add it to various culinary dishes, the fresh root must be peeled. And you need to know how to properly peel ginger.
As an alternative to a spoon, you can use a knife or vegetable peeler; they are better suited for peeling old ginger root, but the loss of nutrients will be greater.
The first method is the most common and, as a rule, the most effective and fastest. It’s all very simple: take an ordinary teaspoon in one hand and the root in the other and begin to slowly, as if, scrape off the skin, you need to do it carefully so as not to catch the layer rich in useful substances. It is also important which root you take. In this way it is very easy to peel the young root, whose skin, like a new potato, is easily scraped off.
There is no need to peel the ginger if you are not going to use all of it, as peeled ginger does not keep for long and you will have to throw it away after a few days.
For the second method, we need a metal sponge for washing dishes, or, as it is popularly called, a “brush.” We take such a washcloth, turn on cold water (hot is not advisable when cleaning and washing not only ginger, but also other vegetables and fruits) and rub the ginger as if washing it. This method is more labor-intensive, but as a result we retain more nutrients than with any other cleaning method.
It is not for nothing that dry ginger is one of the main components of the Ayurvedic mixture for digestion. It is this powder that helps normalize the functioning of the stomach. To help the body process heavy food, eliminate the feeling of heaviness, and remove the symptoms of overeating, it is enough to drink tea made from dry ginger powder, honey or palm sugar called jaggery some time after eating. At the same time, such a drink will also perform another function – antiviral.
Ginger has an unusual taste - spicy with a sweet note. It has the same unusual properties - it has both a warming and cooling, calming effect after consumption after some time. Ginger has a cleansing effect, helps with nausea, digestive disorders, and hemorrhoids. This is a unique natural antioxidant, analgesic and antispasmodic, an effective antibacterial substance.
It's important to remember one thing here. After drinking this tea, you should not immediately go to the balcony or street, as the drink has a diaphoretic effect. After you have drunk tea, you need to stay indoors for some time, and then you can do your daily activities, for example, go for a run, a walk, and so on. If you have bronchitis, you can also prepare a similar tea, only take two teaspoons of ginger powder per glass of boiling water. The drink is boiled down by fifty percent and then filtered.
Solution: How to Brew Ginger Root for Tea Correctly - details about tea
4. For joint pain
For several thousand years, ginger has been considered a unique medicine. It helps with problems associated with the respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems.
During the drying process, some properties of ginger root are modified, but this does not make it any less beneficial for the human body. By the way, dried ginger can be stored for a long time and used as a seasoning for a huge number of dishes. When might you need dry ginger? There are several moments when the root in dried form is relevant.
Many women face the problem of pain during their menstrual periods. A drink made from ginger and palm sugar will also help in this situation. Ginger perfectly removes spasms, makes pain less intense, and helps improve general condition.
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Whole peeled roots can be frozen. But to prevent ice from appearing in the ginger, each root must be dried before placing it in the freezer. If you maintain a consistently low temperature and avoid defrosting and re-freezing the contents of the freezer, then ginger may well retain its shape for 6 months. After this time, the roots will become flabby and begin to lose their beneficial properties.
To preserve the freshness of the roots, you can use regular vodka. In fact, any alcohol-containing liquids are suitable for this purpose, but it is in vodka that ginger will retain the maximum of beneficial substances without changing its taste and smell.
In order not to throw the remains of unused roots into the trash can, you need to figure out how to store ginger at home. Knowing a few simple rules, you can purchase healthy spices in large quantities without worrying that the product will spoil in just a few days.
Learning to choose
The duration of storing the root at home can either increase or decrease. This period largely depends on the quality of the original product. Therefore, it is extremely important to learn how to choose it.
Selection rules or tips on how to choose ginger:
- A bad product can be noticed already on the market and it is not at all necessary to try it. The light color of the peel signals the freshness of the product.
- The pulp should be yellowish. It may be lighter or darker. It depends on the age of the root; the darker it is, the older it is.
- When cut, the juice should be clearly visible. Of course, it does not flow, but, nevertheless, when cut, a rich aroma should be felt.
- You can save only those that have a dense, elastic texture. This is another sign of freshness.
It will not be possible to preserve ginger root for a long time if it has:
- The peel has dried out. This fact indicates that the product is already stale and has been lying on the counter for a long time.
- The skin has wrinkled. This ginger is not suitable for storage. It’s better to avoid it altogether. Wrinkled skin indicates a large loss of moisture, which means it will no longer be as fragrant.
- There is a damp smell. This means that the storage conditions in the store were seriously violated and the goods will quickly deteriorate.
- Uneven color and presence of stains on the surface. Most often, mold manifests itself in the form of dark black dots.
Product selection
When choosing a root vegetable to grind and prepare powder for stock, you need to choose the right raw materials. The first thing you need to pay attention to is appearance. There should be no stains or damage. Fresh root vegetables are smooth, hard, with a characteristic odor, and without any foreign ones. The next thing to pay attention to is the dimensions of the product. The length indicates an increased content of essential oils and microelements in the root.
If the root skin is too thick, then before starting the drying process, it must be cut off on all sides. The root shoots extending to the sides must be cut off and cleaned separately. The peel should be cut off in as small a layer as possible - it is under it that all the most valuable essential oils of ginger are located. It is better to clean it under running cold water, so your eyes will not water from the released essential oils of ginger.
How to organize storage of already peeled ginger
If you plan to use ginger in addition to tea or as an addition to salads, it is recommended to cut the roots into small circles in advance. To prevent the resulting pieces from freezing into a single mass, you need to dry them well and place them individually on foil or baking paper. After a day, when the circles have frozen, you can pour the blanks into one bag. This preparation will allow you to easily take out a piece and immediately throw it into hot tea, without waiting for the contents of the entire bag to defrost.
If you plan to use the ginger in the next ten days, you can organize storage at room temperature. The root should be dry, dense and free of any defects. Place the ginger in a clean glass jar, close the lid tightly and store in a dark place. Please note that after 10 days the roots will gradually begin to lose their shape.
You need to put the roots, peeled and rotten areas, into a glass jar. Pour vodka so that there is 1.5–2 cm of liquid above the top root, and screw the jar tightly with a dry lid. The shelf life of ginger in vodka is 5–6 weeks. But if the liquid becomes cloudy before this time, you need to throw out the contents of the jar - cloudiness indicates the presence of bacteria.
There are a few things to consider when using frozen ginger. For example, you don't need to defrost the entire spine; after all, if only a small part of the root is used, the remains will have to be thrown away. Re-freezing is prohibited . It is enough to take one root out of the freezer and (without defrosting) cut off the required amount. In fact, grating or cutting frozen ginger into thin slices is much easier than fresh.
