Does Ginger Go Bad?: Have you ever been enthralled by several key benefits of ginger and bought loads of ginger at home without any idea about its storage? Are you a ginger tea fan but struggling to make your ginger stock last longer?
No worries, we got you covered. Through this article, we will address all your ginger-based concerns and share some professional advice on how to store ginger. Moreover, you can expect to walk out knowing A to Z of ginger storage after reading through this piece. So, let’s dive in!
- Does Ginger Go Bad?
- How Long Does Ginger Last?
- How To Store Ginger and Make It Last Longer?
- Tips To Remember While Storing Ginger
- How To Tell If Ginger Has Gone Bad?
- Can You Freeze Ginger?
- What Happens If You Eat Bad Ginger?
- Does ginger go bad if left out?
- How long can ginger sit out?
- What happens if you use bad ginger?
Does Ginger Go Bad?
Obviously Yes! Similar to all other delicious and unprocessed food items, ginger roots also go bad over time. This process of spoilage is escalated if ginger hasn’t been stored properly. If left on the counter for a very long time, ginger will develop mold and wrinkled peels all over its surface.
So, it is important to store ginger properly in the refrigerator. It goes for all the ginger products like ginger paste, juice, tea, honey, desserts, spices, etc.
How Long Does Ginger Last?
If you have ever bought raw ginger roots, then you must be aware that there is no expiry date provided by the farm producer. Therefore, you are left to guess on your own about its shelf life. However, in this section, we will be informing you about the estimated shelf life of ginger, be it paste or in any other form. It is important to remember that these timelines are affected by the actual growing conditions and storage spaces of ginger.
| Type of Ginger | At Room Temperature | In the refrigerator | In the freezer |
| Raw Ginger | 1 week | 1-2 months | Up to 6 months |
| Ginger Paste | 1-2 days | Up to 2 weeks | A month |
How To Store Ginger and Make It Last Longer?
If you are one of those health frantic, then ginger must be a necessary part of your kitchen pantry. However, worries about storing this ginger properly must plague you at times. So, we will be explaining all the cool and professional tips to store these healthy roots in this section. Fortunately enough, none of these strategies are difficult to follow, hence even a layman can perform these steps.
- If you wish to store raw ginger, then it is better to keep it in the refrigerator. Simply, wrap them in dry paper towels or place them in sealable plastic bags. After removing all the air from this plastic bag, you can safely keep it away in your refrigerator.
- However, if you are confident that your ginger stack will get used up within a week, then it is absolutely fine to leave it on the kitchen counter or kitchen pantry. Just make sure that the pantry is dry and free of moisture. Raw ginger will last up to a week at room temperature without developing a wrinkled surface.
- The best way to ensure a significantly longer shelf life of ginger is by keeping it in the freezer. Similar to a refrigerator, you will need a plastic bag in which ginger can be sealed. The freezer is the coldest and most dry place to keep ginger roots, paste, juice, etc.
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Tips To Remember While Storing Ginger
If you follow the above-mentioned steps chronologically, then you can considerably extend ginger’s shelf life. However, it will be beneficial if we make certain tweaks to our master plan by incorporating these pointers as well. Feel free to experiment with them at your own pace and analyze the results.
- Never peel off ginger in advance. After coming across the wrinkled skin of ginger, it might be tempting to remove it immediately. But doing so will only increase the chances of its spoilage.
- Avoid washing ginger after purchasing. Wet ginger tends to sprout fast and deteriorates as well whereas dry ginger lasts longer. However, if you are planning to make ginger juice, soup, tea, etc. then it is absolutely fine to wash it.
- Always place ginger in sealable plastic bags inside the refrigerator.
How To Tell If Ginger Has Gone Bad?
Now that you are aware of the perfect ginger strong tips, you may wonder how someone can possibly identify spoiled ginger. The red flags of spoilage in ginger can be easily spotted if you are vigilant enough. Not all of them are visible in every condition but they definitely show up gradually. Some of these issues are mentioned here.
- If you detect black or brown spots on ginger, then it has probably been spoiled by mold. It is better to get rid of such roots. However, if mold is limited to a particular area, then you can cut it off and use the leftover ginger.
- An extremely wrinkled peel of ginger can also indicate that it has gone bad.
- If you feel like your ginger has lost its essence or flavor, then it is far better to trust your instincts than take any chances with your health. After All, there is no point in using ginger that has lost its medicinal properties.
- Lastly, ginger is supposed to be firm when you touch it. If you find it soft or mushy, then discard it immediately. Spoiled ginger may soon infect the healthy ones as well.
Willing to know about other spice chives then follow our article on How Long Do Chives Last and know the tips and tricks to extend their shelf life.
Can You Freeze Ginger?
Yes, absolutely. Ginger, like any other herb or root, can easily be frozen in a freezer. Preserving ginger in the freezer will make it last longer for more than 2 months. Moreover, it won’t affect its flavor profile in any way. Whenever you want to use it, simply take it out and leave it on the kitchen counter for a few hours, as it helps restore its texture.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Ginger?
If you were to eat spoiled ginger mistakenly, then there is nothing serious to worry about. Bad ginger can give off a foul smell or spoil the dish’s taste, but it won’t cause any major health concerns. So, if you come across ginger spoilage, then it is better to get rid of such ginger roots
FAQs on Does Ginger Go Bad
1. Does ginger go bad if left out?
Yes, definitely. If you leave out raw ginger at the kitchen counter for more than a week, then it will deteriorate fast. You can even tell that it is getting spoiled if you notice its skin getting wrinkled. Thus, it is better to store ginger properly so that you can keep using it for a long.
2. How long can ginger sit out?
Ginger can sit out for up to a week at normal tropical temperatures. However, this duration may vary based on the actual storage conditions for ginger. Unless you plan to use up this ginger quickly, which is rarely the case, it is better to place it inside the refrigerator inside plastic bags. Moreover, ginger can last even longer in the freezer if you place it in sealable plastic containers.
3. What happens if you use bad ginger?
It depends on how you used your spoiled ginger before the damage check can be done. If it was already put in food, then you can simply throw away the food as ginger might have been infected with mold. However, it may not cause any serious health hazards.
Summary
Hopefully, this article has resolved all your issues about ginger and its storage requirements along with signs of its spoilage. Ginger is a great root with several medicinal and herbal properties. That’s why it is used in many recipes and beverages for soups, teas, drinks, etc. Keep scrolling to discover more articles like How Long Does Thyme Last and about your favorite food items and drinks and their shelf lives.