Wondering how to deal with this gnarly tuber? Learn the basics and get ready to have your taste buds tickled.
Buy Look for young ginger, which has a thinner skin. If any pieces have broken off from a larger hunk of ginger, you'll definitely be able to see if the root has dried out or shriveled at all. Try to avoid ginger that has dried out and wrinkled -- it has lost flavor and moisture.
Store Take the ginger out of your shopping bag so that it can breathe. Keep unpeeled ginger in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator if you won't be using it immediately.
Peel Remove the knots to make the surface as smooth as possible, then use a very sharp paring knife or a peeler and peel it long-ways from top to bottom. Don't worry about getting every piece of the skin off, especially if you're cooking with it. The thin skin will not pose a problem, especially if you're grating or chopping it finely in a recipe.
Nestperts: Alex Guarnaschelli is the host of Food Network's "Alex's Day Off," recurring judge on "Chopped," and Executive Chef of Butter Restaurant in New York City. Judy Penta is a nutritionist at Patients Medical in New York City.
Get more ginger recipes in our gallery!
-- The Nest Editors
Jul 27, 2010
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