Step 1

Wash the ginger root under running water and remove all the dust and debris

Step 2

You can air-dry by leaving it out on the kitchen counter or dry it well with a kitchen towel.

Step 3

If you are going to use the ginger root within a week, leave it out and store in a cool dry place.

Step 4

To store in the refrigerator, put the ginger root in a resealable plastic bag and store it in the crisper section. Don't peel the skin if you are storing it in the refrigerator. But be sure to check for mold before using the ginger.

Step 5

To store ginger even longer, store it in the freezer. Keep it in a ziplock bag or freezer-safe container. If it is organic ginger, you can store it with the peel. Break into small pieces before freezing.

Step 6

Whenever you need ginger, just take it out of the freezer and grate it to use. Then, keep the ziploc bag back in the freezer for future use. Don't worry about thawing ginger as it is easy to peel and grate when frozen.

Step 7

Remove the jagged or bruised portions of the ginger and cut into small pieces.

Step 8

Blend the chopped pieces in a blender to a course or fine paste. Try to add as little water as possible.

Step 9

Once the ginger paste is ready, you can store it in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

Step 10

To store in freezer, use ice-cube trays with a lid to store the ginger in the freezer. The tray holds about a tablespoon of ginger in each cube. You can also fill the cube half to have 1/2 tablespoon, which works for most recipes.

Step 11

You can save space by removing the ginger cubes from the ice cube trays and storing them in a resealable plastic bag.

Step 12

You can also use Ziploc bags to store the paste if you don't have ice-cube trays. Add the ginger paste and flatten the bag to a thin layer as shown below. This way you can break easily the amount you need for cooking.

Step 13

Another way is to line a sheet pan with parchment paper and add a dollop of ginger paste in a row and freeze it. Then store those mounds in a ziploc bag and remove as much as air as possible before sealing and storing the bag in the freezer.