What Is Ginger and How Can I Use It?

If ginger has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 2,909 recipes to try it in.

What is ginger?

Young ginger rhizomes are juicy and fleshy with a very mild taste. They are often pickled in vinegar or sherry as a snack or just cooked as an ingredient in many dishes. They can also be stewed in boiling water to make ginger tea, to which honey is often added; sliced orange or lemon fruit may also be added. Ginger can also be made into candy.

Mature ginger root are fibrous and nearly dry. Ginger is considered to act as a useful food preservative.

Fresh ginger can be substituted for ground ginger at a ratio of 6 to 1, although the flavors of fresh and dried ginger are somewhat different.

Candied ginger is the root cooked in sugar until soft, and is a type of confectionery.

Fresh ginger may be peeled before eating. For longer-term storage, the ginger can be placed in a plastic bag and refrigerated or frozen.

Nutrition

Where found

Ginger is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Ginger is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does ginger weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using ginger

There are 2909 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Adam's Chai Latte Ice Cream

My brother Adam loves this ice cream so much that I asked him for the recipe. It's a Chai Latte with chunks of gingerbread cookies hidden within.

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie with a gingersnap crumb crust, dark rum, heavy cream, and freshly grated nutmeg. The double-boiler trick warms the filling before baking for a smoother, less weepy custard.

Gloria's Best Gingerbread Cookies

Soft, warmly spiced gingerbread cookies made with molasses, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg. Roll and cut into festive shapes for Christmas decorating with simple icing.

Nonfat Eggless Pumpkin Pie

Nonfat eggless pumpkin pie made with liquid egg substitute, evaporated skim milk, and brown sugar substitute. A diabetic-friendly Thanksgiving dessert with classic pumpkin pie spice.

Dave's Light Pumpkin Pie

Dave's light pumpkin pie uses artificial sweetener, skim milk, and nonfat evaporated milk for a holiday-classic flavor with significantly less fat and sugar. Thanksgiving dessert you can serve guilt-free.

Mattar Paneer (Peas & Cheese)

Matar paneer is a popular Indian dish consisting of paneer (a type of fresh cheese) and peas (matar) cooked in a spiced tomato-based gravy. It combines the soft, creamy texture of paneer with the sweet pop of green peas, all enveloped in a rich, aromatic sauce.

Tradional Pumpkin Pie

Traditional pumpkin pie made with sweetened condensed milk, two eggs, pumpkin puree, and warming cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. The Eagle Brand classic that ends up on Thanksgiving tables for a reason.

T.M.'s Gingerbread Cookies

Classic roll-out gingerbread cookies with ginger, nutmeg, and molasses, perfect for cookie cutters and holiday decorating. The traditional Christmas cookie kids and grown-ups both love to ice.

Easy Ginger Spice Cookies

Easy ginger spice cookies with no sugar in the dough: cinnamon, ginger, and cloves rolled and cut into rounds, then tossed warm in a sugar-substitute cinnamon coating. A diabetic-friendly cookie.

Delicious Thanksging Pumpkin Pie

Classic Thanksgiving pumpkin pie with cinnamon, ginger, and cloves bound by evaporated milk and eggs in a flaky shell. The straightforward holiday standard, two pies from one batch.

Refried Beans & Cheese Bread

This bread can either accompany or replace the Southwestem breakfast staple of refried beans topped with cheese or wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Karen's Pumpkin Pie

Karen's pumpkin pie uses fresh roasted pumpkin, heavy cream, brown sugar, warm spices, and a splash of whiskey for the richest holiday pie. From-scratch Thanksgiving classic.

Paneer Tikka

Paneer tikka, cubes of Indian paneer marinated in spiced yogurt with tandoori spices, chaat masala, ginger, and garlic, then pan-fried golden and served with peppers and onions. A vegetarian Indian classic.

South Indian Vegetable Biryani

Hi friends this is my first recipe hope you all like it.

Moghul Style Mixed Vegetables with Paneer

Mughlai-style mixed vegetable curry with paneer, cream, pineapple, and golden raisins. A rich, mildly spiced North Indian dish that finishes with a sprinkle of fried nuts for royal-court flair.

Tom's Old Fashioned Pumpkin Pie

Old-fashioned pumpkin pie with molasses, evaporated milk, and the four classic spices: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. The grandmother-style holiday pie with a deep, dark filling.

Favourite Spiced Tea

Favourite spiced tea: a fragrant homemade chai blend of peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger ground fresh, stirred into a pot of tea and served hot with milk and sugar.

Mother's Pumpkin Pie

Classic homemade pumpkin pie with a from-scratch shortening crust and a custard filling spiced with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and clove. Real evaporated milk and whole eggs, no shortcuts.

Ginger Broccoli Soup

Ginger broccoli soup steeps fresh grated ginger in vegetable stock with cayenne and lemon, then simmers broccoli florets just to tender. A vibrant, brothy bowl with Ayurvedic roots, ready in 40 minutes.

Chicken Stir-Fry

Quick Chinese chicken stir-fry with broccoli, carrots, and celery in a savory soy-ginger sauce. Marinate 30 minutes, cook in 10 for a weeknight dinner that beats takeout.

Awesome Ginger Spice Waffles

Gingerbread-style waffles with molasses, ground ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg, half whole-wheat flour for body. Topped with vanilla yogurt and bright fruit, they taste like holiday morning.

Halloween Pumpkin Pie

Halloween pumpkin pie with a from-scratch pastry crust, silky spiced custard, and fresh grated ginger for a livelier kick than the usual canned pie. The kind of pumpkin pie that earns its place on the autumn table.

Light Pumpkin Pie

Light pumpkin pie sweetened with brown sugar, honey, and low-calorie sweetener, blended with non-fat milk for a creamy custard that skips the heavy cream without losing the warm ginger-cinnamon-nutmeg punch.

Jason's Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin pie deepened with brown sugar and a warming hit of mace, ginger, and clove. Evaporated milk gives the custard its silky, sliceable set, while a hot oven start locks in that classic glossy top.

Malabar Chicken Curry Recipe

Malabar chicken curry is a spicy and aromatic dish that hails from the Malabar region of India. This curry is made with a unique blend of spices that include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and fennel, which gives it a distinctive taste and aroma. The tender chicken pieces are simmered in a rich and flavorful coconut milk-based gravy, making it a perfect dish for any occasion. The curry can be adjusted to your preferred level of spiciness, making it versatile for all tastes. Whether you're looking to explore new flavors or simply want to add a bit of spice to your meals, Malabar chicken curry is a must-try recipe for any home cook.

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