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The Instacart guide to ginger products
About ginger
Ginger is the rhizome of the flowering plant with the same name. Although some people think that a rhizome is a root as it grows underground, it's actually the plant's main stem. The ginger plant's rhizome is pungent and aromatic and commonly used as a medicine or a food spice.
Colloquially, the rhizome of the ginger plant is referred to as ginger or ginger root. Some other plants in the genus Zingiber also utilize the term "ginger" in their name. For instance, galangal, which is similar to ginger but has a sharper and more peppery taste, is known as blue or Thai ginger. Ginger is also related to turmeric and cardamom.
The use of ginger dates back more than 5,000 years, when the Austronesian peoples first cultivated the plant. They ate fresh ginger on its own and also used it to flavor their food. The leaves of the plant were used to weave carpets. Ginger also had spiritual meaning for these people, and they used it in their rituals to ask for healing and protection.
How to pick out ginger
When you're shopping for ginger, you want to look for ginger with shiny, taut skin. You'll want to select pieces with firm, heavy hands and avoid any that are wrinkled or show signs of mold, as this means they are past their sell-by date. Pieces with soft spots are also best left on the shelf.
It's totally acceptable to snap off only as much ginger as you need from the rhizome. If it breaks off easily, you know you're buying fresh ginger. When you cut through a piece at home, and the inside of the ginger has blue streaks, don't worry that it may be off. This simply means you've bought Hawaiian blue-ring ginger.
How long can I keep a ginger root?
Ginger root will stay fresh enough to use for about a week or so if you leave it outside in your vegetable rack. If you don't use ginger regularly, you can keep it fresh for longer by placing it in a resealable plastic bag and storing it in your fridge. Stored this way, ginger can last up to a month. If you've already peeled the ginger, place it in a closed container and use it within a few days.
You can also put the ginger in a freezer bag and store it in the freezer. When you need some ginger, you don't need to thaw it, as frozen ginger is easy to peel and grate. An alternative way to store ginger is in a jar filled with sherry. Place the jar in the fridge, and the ginger will retain its texture for quite some time. In addition, you'll have some ginger-flavored sherry to use in your cooking.
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FAQs about ginger
There are many ginger beer recipes. Some recipes add lemon juice, whereas others call for the addition of pineapples or raisins. In general, however, ginger beer is made by boiling water, sugar, and either grated ginger or ginger powder. Most recipes also include half a teaspoon of cream of tartar to break up and stabilize the sugar.
If you want to make alcoholic ginger beer, add some yeast after the mixture has cooled down to about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You then want to lightly cover the mixture and let it stand for about three days in a warm room in order for the brew to ferment. You can then strain the beer, decant it in glass bottles, and place them in the fridge.
Apart from providing a pungent and spicy flavor to food, ginger has also been used as a herbal medicine in various cultures for thousands of years to treat anything from the common cold to cancer. The unique flavor and fragrance of ginger stem from its natural oils, of which gingerol is the most important. It's the main bioactive compound of the plant and is a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant.
The Chinese view ginger as a "yang tonifying herb" and believe that it stimulates circulation and warms up the body, which counters the surface chilliness associated with colds. In many cultures, ginger is used to prevent or alleviate nausea, stomach ailments, and motion sickness. New research also shows that ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties, as it has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and improve various heart risk factors in people with type 2 diabetes.
Yes, it's quite easy to grow a new ginger plant from a leftover ginger root that's been lying in your vegetable rack for a while. Place the piece of ginger you want to use in some water overnight, then cut off a piece of around 1 to 1.5 inches the next morning. The piece should contain at least one eye. Plant the piece in well-prepared soil with the eye facing upward and make sure it gets some sun and water.
Instacart grocers offer ginger in various forms, including candied, powdered, pickled, fresh, preserved, and dried! Visit our website and pick the ginger products that best suit your needs.