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Learn how to mince ginger quickly, safely, and easily to use in all of your favorite recipes. Learn how to peel, grate and finely chop fresh ginger root to add flavor to your dishes.
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So many recipes, especially Chinese and Japanese, call for freshly minced ginger, and if your knife skills aren’t pro-level, this can be a little intimidating.
This method for mincing ginger requires no knives and takes minutes to do. When ground ginger just won’t cut it, use this method for grated ginger to add the best flavor to your favorite dishes.
Use your minced ginger in my Ginger Tea or Korean Beef Bowls.
Why you will love this recipe!
- Easy: When you know how, mincing ginger is super easy! You’ll be adding it to so many dishes!
- Freezer friendly: Mince your ginger ahead of time and freeze it for easy use.
- So flavorful: It’s so tempting to use ground ginger or bottled pre-diced ginger from the grocery store in place of fresh, but it’s often not as flavorful. Fresh ginger also has more nutrients.
Tools you need
- Spoon, vegetable peeler or a paring knife: Because of the uneven surface of the ginger root, I find it easier to peel ginger with the edge of a spoon.
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife: Make sure you have a sharp knife before starting to slice, chop and mince the ginger.
- Microplane: If you are intimidated using a knife to mince ginger, you can just mince/grate the ginger using a Microplane.
- Mortar and pestle or garlic press (alternatively): Another alternative way to mince or press ginger is to smash it using mortar and pestle, or a garlic press.
Ingredients
You just need some fresh ginger root and you are good to go. Fresh ginger root will keep well in the fridge for up to a month.
How to mince ginger root
- Peel a piece of ginger root using the edge of a spoon.
- Use a grater or microplane to mince the ginger.
- If you don’t have a grater or microplane, use a large sharp knife to slice thin slices like coins, then cut ginger in matchsticks in one direction and then chop the thin strips in the other direction until the ginger is chopped in tiny cubes, and then mince it into small pieces. You may want to hold the top of your knife with your non-cutting hand and continue working over the ginger until the pieces are small enough.
How to store fresh ginger?
If you are left with a large amount of ginger and are wondering how to store it, you can either chop ginger and place it in a zip lock bag, or you can store it whole without peeling and slicing it. I prefer to store any leftover thumb of ginger root unpeeled in the freezer. It will last for many months and it will not go bad.
f you need to mince a lot of ginger at once, you could also try to use a blender or food processor after you have peeled the ginger. You can then refrigerate it in an airtight container or freeze it in an ice cube tray and later transfer the cubes to a freezer-safe ziplock bag.
Can you mince ginger ahead of time?
Once you have minced your ginger, place it into a ziplock bag, or small airtight container. Keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. After two weeks, it can still be used, but it will start to lose its flavor and dry out.
Can you freeze it?
Freezing minced ginger is a perfect way to preserve it for longer, so if you like to have everything on hand ready to go, it’s a great option. Mince the ginger and then wrap it in plastic wrap in a log shape. Freeze it in a bag or container to protect it from freezer burn. You can break some off whenever you need it and use it right from frozen.
What’s the best way to peel ginger?
Put down the knife when it comes to peeling ginger. Because ginger has an uneven shape and surface, when you use a knife you end up discarding a lot of the flesh. Use a teaspoon across the skin and it comes off really easily.
Why 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.
How to use fresh ginger?
Ginger adds so much fresh flavor to dishes. Some of my favorite ways to use it are in Asian dishes like stir fry, soups, smoothies, sauces, or other main dishes. For example, try this Chicken Fried Rice, Korean Beef Bowls, Hawaiian Meatballs, Instant Pot Honey Sesame Chicken.
TIPS FROM NELI’S KITCHEN
Recipe Notes and Tips
- If storing minced ginger in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible to keep it fresh.
- If using a knife to mince the ginger, cut slowly and keep fingers out of the way. Take your time and cut it as fine as possible for the strongest flavor.
- Ginger is very nutritious and has many health benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory, strengthens your immune system, aids digestion, boosts bone health, and is proven to help with morning sickness in pregnant women.
More Kitchen Tips
If you found this tutorial for how to peel and mince ginger, check out my other kitchen tips:
How to Mince Ginger
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By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Delicious Meets Healthy.
INGREDIENTS
INSTRUCTIONS
- Peel the ginger root using the edge of a spoon.
- Use a grater or microplane to mince the ginger.
- If you don’t have a grater or microplane, use a large chef’s knife to slice thin slices in one direction, then chop in the other direction until the ginger is minced into small pieces. You may want to hold the top of your knife with your non-cutting hand and continue working over the ginger until the pieces are small enough.
TIPS & NOTES
- If storing minced ginger in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible to keep it fresh.
- If using a knife to mince the ginger, cut slowly and keep fingers out of the way. Take your time and cut it as fine as possible for the strongest flavor.
- Ginger is very nutritious and has many health benefits. It’s anti-inflammatory, strengthens your immune system, aids digestion, boosts bone health, and is proven to help with morning sickness in pregnant women.
NUTRITION
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Nell you are a mind reader. I have been wondering how to use fresh ginger for awhile. Thank you so much. I just bought a wok and will use your directions.