Description:

You can find fresh ginger in the produce department of mostsupermarkets. Look for bulbs with smooth brown skin and a hardsurface; the bulb should feel heavy. Avoid ginger that is light,soft, and wrinkled. And do not be afraid of snapping off what youneed at the store (no ginger police will be lurking in the aisles)if the root is too big. Fresh ginger has a relatively long shelflife, especially when kept loosely wrapped in a plastic bag in yourrefrigerator’s humidity-controlled vegetable bin. Do not freezepieces of fresh ginger; it becomes unmanageable, unpalatable, andrubbery when thawed. (You can, however, freeze minced ginger.) Washthe ginger before use. If the skin is clean, smooth, and doesn’tappear dry, you don’t have to bother peeling it. Simply slice offany dry ends before using it. If the skin is tough and appearsslightly woody, it’s best to peel it, using a swivel peeler or aparing knife.