Can You Eat Raw Ginger Root? Here Are A Few Uses

We all know, and some of us, love the famous ginger tea, which is really easy to make, and it’s known for its many health benefits.

But have you ever thought while you sliced it if you can eat raw ginger root?

I know I had since the smell of it can be a good indication of how it tastes, I thought it could be quite good.

But before trying to eat raw any type of plant or vegetable, it is better to do some research since you can be surprised by how a non-threatening-looking plant can be very dangerous if you eat it raw.

So in this article, I want to share with you what I found about eating the raw ginger root, its benefits, taste and texture, and the best uses of raw ginger.

Can you eat raw ginger root?

Yes, ginger root can be eaten raw and has a lot of health benefits and good nutrients. You can simply chew on a raw ginger root after peeling it and washing it thoroughly or use it in a tea, salad, or smoothie.

Ginger has a strong spicy, citrusy taste that can be overwhelming for many people.

Also, its texture is fibrous and firm, similar to the turmeric root, which makes it not the most pleasant thing you can eat.

I don’t want to go too much in the health benefits aspect of it since I’m not a doctor, but I heard a lot of people are actually surprised by how much it can help in certain health issues. You can check this article from Healthline if you want to know more about ginger’s health benefits.

Read Also: Why Is My Ginger Bitter?

Uses of raw ginger

There are quite a few uses of the fresh ginger root that you can try if you don’t want to eat the root on its own, which I don’t recommend all that much since the way to strong taste and not so friendly texture can be off-putting for most people.

So let’s see what you can do with a fresh ginger root:

• Ginger Tea. The most obvious of the uses is to make a great and healthy ginger tea. For this, you need to slice the ginger thinly, some people don’t peel it, but I prefer to because it is much cleaner and safer. Put it in a saucepan with water, boil them over high heat, let it simmer for 5 minutes, and you are done.
• Pickled ginger. I have an entire article about pickled ginger here. Maybe at first, making pickled ginger can sound weird, but what you get with your sushi is most often pickled ginger.
• Good in lemonade. Since it has a fresh and citrusy flavor, it can work great in lemonade on a sunny summer day if you can bear ginger’s spicy taste.
• Shredded ginger in salad or food. You can shred fresh ginger root in a salad, which can be a great way to get a fresh spicy taste from your salad, or shred it on top of cooked food.
• Smoothie. Making a smoothie with ginger and any other fruits like apples, kiwi, pear, mango, etc., can work great because it will get you the chance to have the benefits of ginger with a much better taste that comes from those delicious fruits. When you use raw ginger, make sure you use small quantities because it has a very strong taste that can ruin what you plan to do with it.

• Ginger in cooked food. Ginger can be successfully used in cooked food as well. Actually, it is often used in a lot of Asian food like curry or fried rice.

This is why we love Asian cuisine, they are not afraid to use ingredients that have a very strong taste, and they often combine them in interesting ways that you can’t even think about, like ginger with mango in a curry or a lot of surprising mixes that end up tasting good.

Ginger can be used very well in a creamy soup-like carrot ginger soup or pumpkin ginger soup as well. You get the idea, it is not recommended that ginger is the main ingredient in those soups, but it can be the second one for adding an extra fresh, spicy flavor.

Read Also: Is Gingerbread Made With Ginger ?

How to choose a good ginger root

The most important thing you can do to ensure a great experience when eating raw ginger is to make sure you choose the best, freshest one from the market.

When you buy ginger, make sure you check these things before:

-Color. The color of ginger can be tricky since it doesn’t change when it goes bad, but it can have weird darker color spots than the natural grey-brown color.

If you see a blue color where the ginger is cut, don’t worry, that is not a clear sign that it has gone bad; check this article for more details.

-Texture. This one is the most important. Fresh ginger should have a firm texture without a wrinkly, soft, or discontinued peel. You can gently press the ginger root with your thumb to check if it’s firm enough. It should not give back at all when you gently press it.

-Size. If possible, buy smaller ginger usually, it is a sign that it is younger, and you have more chances to be fresher and taste better than a bigger one.

How long does ginger last fresh

Fresh, unpeeled ginger should last for a few days on the counter, but it can last up to a week if you place it in a dark, cool place without direct sunlight.

You can store fresh ginger root in the fridge as well to last up to three months; for this, you need to store it in a resealable bag with all the air removed.

The ginger root can be kept in the freezer as well, but it will be soggy when thawed, so it is proper to use this method only if you plan to cook with that ginger or make a smoothie rather than using it raw. Frozen ginger can last up to six months if stored in an airtight container or a freezer bag.

Conclusion

Ginger root can be eaten raw, but if you plan to do this is better to use it in a mix with something else since chewing on a ginger root might not be the best experience you can have. 

Make sure you choose a good ginger root to begin with, and then store it properly if you don’t plan to use it right away.

I hope you now have some great ideas about what to do with fresh ginger root.