The numerous branches of the ginger root ensure an interesting look. When peeling, however, the cloves are a hindrance because they make a large part of the tuber inaccessible to the knife. You'll be surprised at the tips and tricks that come in handy when removing the shell.

Ginger does not necessarily have to be peeled

Does the shell always have to go?

The shell shields the inside of the tuber from external influences, after all it grows deep in the "dirty" earth for weeks. Apart from that, this light brown, thin shell is very edible. It even contains healthy ingredients that are good for our body. It does not necessarily have to be removed, although peeling can occasionally make sense.

tips

Tea made from an unpeeled root of ginger is said to quickly relieve cold symptoms or make them disappear completely. The key ingredients are hidden precisely in the shell.

The texture of the shell

The skin tastes a little more bitter than the yellow inside of the tuber. However, since it is very thin and is always used with the whole tuber, this bitter taste is put into perspective. Otherwise, some foods that use unpeeled ginger can be sweetened with a little honey.

With older ginger bulbs, the skin changes in such a way that eating is no longer a pleasure. It is woody and dry, which negatively affects the taste of food. It should therefore be removed and discarded.

When the shell can stay on

If the ginger root is very fresh, i.e. plump and juicy, the peel can be used. However, the ginger should come from organic farming, which does not require harmful pesticides.

Fortunately, the price of organic products is only slightly higher than that of conventionally grown ginger. The use can also decide on the whereabouts of the bowl:

  • with grated ginger, the peel is hardly noticeable
  • it doesn't bother you when you're making tea and can stay on

Break the tuber into pieces

It is very rare that a root of ginger is completely used up in a single preparation. During interim storage, the shell should be left on to protect the inside from drying out. Therefore, only cut off as much of the tuber as you need at the moment. Only this severed part is peeled if necessary.

Remove fine soil residue

Regardless of whether the ginger is used with or without the peel, it must always be thoroughly cleaned beforehand. Often there are still fine pieces of earth stuck to the shell, which have to be removed under running water and, if necessary, with the help of a vegetable brush.

It is also helpful for this to separate the individual branches of the tuber, as otherwise the spaces in between are difficult to reach. The ginger is cut or grated into smaller pieces for further use anyway, so there are no disadvantages in this separation.

Peel or scrape the ginger

Individual, separated pieces of ginger, which have a smooth and easily accessible peel surface, can be peeled very easily with a vegetable peeler or a small, sharp knife. But even the peeler often removes more of the peel than is absolutely necessary.

It is therefore recommended to scrape off the easily peeling peel from the tuber. This is how it works:

  1. Thoroughly clean the ginger pieces under running water.
  2. Take a small knife or a small spoon.
  3. Scrape the skin off the bulb with a spoon. If you use a knife to do this, use the blunt side of the blade.
  4. After removing the skin from all of the ginger, it may be necessary to wash off any remaining skin with water or remove it with a kitchen towel.

Use and store early

Peeled ginger should not be left unused for long, as it dries out quickly in the air. Therefore, only peel it when necessary and store the rest of the tuber in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator. It stays plump and crunchy for a long time if stored in a tightly sealed plastic bag or jar.

Conclusion for fast readers:

  • Edibility: Ginger peel is edible, even contains many healthy ingredients
  • Texture: It is slightly more bitter; with old tubers unfortunately also woody and dry
  • Leave the peel on: with fresh organic produce; when ginger is finely grated; for tea preparation
  • Tip: balance out the bitterness by adding honey
  • Peeling: Always only as much as is needed; immediately before use
  • Cleaning: Clean the tuber under running water; Remove fine soil residues with a vegetable brush
  • Tip: Cut the tuber into pieces to get better access to inaccessible places
  • Remove skin: Peel off with a vegetable peeler or a small, sharp knife
  • Alternative: scrape off the peel; use a small spoon or the blunt side of the knife blade

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden