Ginger is popular among Asian cuisine, but nowadays, it can be found in many other different cuisines around the world. Ginger is known to make food more zesty and spicy tasting. This root vegetable can be bought in the form of fresh, grounded, and paste. While you may not use them all right away, they can be stored for later usage. Therefore, most will wonder how long the ginger they have will last for.
So how long does ginger last? At room temperature, the fresh ginger root will last for about 1 week, while ground dried ginger root will last for 1-2 years after the Best by date. In the fridge, the fresh ginger root will last for 1 month. Storing ginger root in the freezer will keep them fresh for up to 3 months.
Above are just an estimated time for their shelf life. Other factors such as their freshness, where it’s stored, the storage temperature, and how it’s stored will determine the actual shelf life.
In this short guide, we’ll be going through how long does ginger last, how to properly store ginger, when to tell when they’ve gone bad, and how to keep them fresh for as long as possible. If these are what you’re looking to find an answer for, keep reading.
Ginger Shelf Life
| Room Temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh whole ginger last | 7 Days | 1 Month | 3 Months |
| Fresh cut or peeled ginger last | 1-2 Hours | 5-7 Days | 3 Months |
| Grounded ginger last | 1-2 Years | Not Recommended | Not Recommended |
| Ginger paste last | 6-12 Months | 1 Year | 1 Year |
How Long Does Ginger Last?
At room temperature, ginger will last for about 1 week. Depending on how fresh when you bought them, it could last a little longer or go bad quicker much sooner.
For ginger that has been cut or sliced, at room temperature, they will last for a couple of hours. After that, they will still be safe to use, but they will lose some of their freshness due to moisture loss.
In the fridge, ginger will last for about 3-4 weeks. If you’re going to store them whole, place the ginger in the crisper section of the fridge. This will ensure they stay fresh for up to 4 weeks.
Cut or sliced ginger will have a shorter shelf life in the fridge. Once they are cut, ginger should be stored in a sealable bag or an airtight container right away. The faster you prepare and store ginger, the longer they’ll remain fresh.
The freezer is the place where ginger will last the longest. In the freezer, ginger will last for about 3 months.
Can Ginger Go Bad?
Like other vegetables, ginger does go bad. However, they tend to go bad slowly so you will have time to use them. Ginger contains a lot of moisture and once it starts to lose moisture, it will go bad.
Moisture loss is usually due to heat. This means gingers that are left direct sunlight or near a heat-producing appliance, it will cause the ginger to lose moisture. Once that happens, the ginger will start to shrink and become dry.
How To Tell If Ginger Is Bad?
Ginger is one of those vegetables that tend to go bad slowly. This will give you ample time to use them before they are no longer usable.
When ginger starts to go bad, they will exhibit the usual signs of spoilage. Below are signs to look for when ginger start to spoil or have reached their prime.
Appearance – Fresh ginger will have to be firm and potent. As they start to spoil, the outer skin will become soggy. At this stage, if there are no slimes or mold on it, it’s still good to use. If you noticed any mold or dark spots on them, it’s best to throw it away.
Ginger will slowly decay to the point where it will lose all of its moisture and become dry. After cutting it open, if the flesh has no moisture in it, the ginger has passed it’s prime and should be thrown away.
Color – Ginger will turn darker as they start to go bad. Look around the edges of the ginger and if you notice any grayish hue, it’s starting to go bad. This coloring doesn’t mean that it should be thrown away just yet. Slice open the ginger and see if the inside has a bright coloring to it.
If it’s dull and seems to have less or no moisture at all, that’s a sign that the ginger root is bad and should be thrown away.
How to Store Ginger?
Storing Ginger At Room Temperature
At room temperature, fresh ginger should be stored away from direct sunlight and any other heat sources. The best place to store them outside of the fridge would be the pantry. In the pantry, they should be kept in a brown paper bag to help the ginger retain their moisture. Also, make sure to not wash them as moisture hastens rotting. Therefore, it’s better to wash them right before you prepare them.
Ginger that is cut, sliced, or peeled, they should be kept in a container with a lid until it’s ready to be used. The ginger should be used within an hour or so to retain its freshness. If it’s hotter than normal, expect the cut ginger to last no longer than an hour.
If you have ginger in the form of a paste, they should be stored in an airtight container and stored in the pantry or the cupboard.
Storing Ginger In The Refrigerator
For storage in the refrigerator, whole fresh ginger can be stored in the crisper section of the fridge. Make sure to no wash them before storing them in the fridge. Doing so will cause the ginger root to rot.
For cut or peeled ginger, they should be stored in an airtight container or a sealable plastic bag. The plastic bag or container will prevent air from drying out the ginger and help it retain its moisture.
Can You Freeze Ginger?
Ginger root can be frozen in the freezer. You can freeze them whole or they can be frozen as a paste. Storing ginger in the freezer will help them stay fresh for up to 3 months. However, they can last much longer if it’s properly stored.
To store whole ginger in the freezer, make sure that the ginger is at the best quality. This will help keep them fresh as long as possible. Before storing it, make sure to brush off any dirt and other debris from it. Also, never wash the ginger before storing them. By doing so, you could cause them to get freezer burn.
For cut or peeled ginger root, it’s best to not store them in the freezer as is. Since the flesh is already exposed to the air, storing them in the freezer will cause them to go bad quickly due to moisture loss. If you do need to store cut or peeled ginger, it’s best to flash freeze them first. This will help preserve the moisture, but again, it won’t stay fresh very long in the freezer.
As for storage, make sure the ginger is stored in a freezer bag or an airtight container. The less air that the ginger is exposed to, the lesser the chance for freezer burn. However, ginger will still get freezer burn if it’s stored in the freezer for a long time. That’s just naturally occurring for any type of foods that are stored in the freezer.
If you have ginger paste to freeze, make sure they are stored in an airtight container. The container should be sealed tightly to prevent air from getting into it. Again, the air that gets into the container will cause the ginger paste to get freezer burn, which will eventually damage the paste.
How To Keep Ginger Fresh Longer
Purchasing Ginger
How long ginger will actually last will depend on when you buy them. Therefore, it’s important to buy ginger that is fresh and at the best quality. When looking at the ginger, observe the appearance and the weight of it.
As for appearance, look for one that is firm and the skin has no wrinkle on it. Wrinkles are a sign that the ginger is losing moisture. Also, check to see if there are any cuts on it too. Cuts and tears will expose the flesh to the air, which will cause it to dry out quickly. All of these things will cause ginger to go bad.
The last thing to check is the weight of the ginger. When picking one up, they should have some weight to it. If it feels light, almost like lifting a paper, that’s a sign the ginger is going bad due to moisture loss. It’s important the ginger has as much moisture as possible so they’ll last as long as possible.
Related Questions
Can you get sick from bad ginger?
If there are molds growing on the ginger, it means the ginger has lost all of its nutritional value. The mold has rooted itself deep inside the ginger. Therefore, you can get sick from eating bad ginger.
What’s the difference between ginger root and galangal root?
Ginger and galangal are both root vegetables, but the big difference is their taste. Ginger has a fresh and pungently zesty taste to it. Galangal, on the other hand, has a sharp citrus and piney flavor to it.