Dry ginger in three different ways
Ginger can be dried easily and in various ways such as using sunlight, drying machine or oven, and if any of these methods are used, the principles must be observed in order to obtain a high quality product.
Ginger is the root of the car plant that grows in hot and humid areas and has a spicy flavor and taste. Like the potato, it is the root part of the plant that mostly grows in hot and humid areas. Because of its spicy aroma and taste, it is used in many countries of the world, Iran and India. It is used in all kinds of drinks and foods. The nature of ginger is that it is widely used in traditional medicine and is usually used more in cold seasons.
The properties of ginger are endless. It is used in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. Nothing can replace the strong aroma and great taste of fresh ginger, but for those who do not have access to it, the best method is dried ginger. In this article, we will learn how to dry ginger.
3 practical ways to dry ginger
Fortunately, drying ginger is not a difficult task and you can have ginger powder for a long time even by drying a small amount of it; Because every time you cook food or make tea, just a pinch or a teaspoon of it is enough. Ginger is very easy to dry and can even be used without a dehydrator. Do not forget that the fresh ginger you buy should not have strong root fibers, otherwise it will be difficult to powder after drying. Here are 3 practical ways to dry ginger at home:
1. Sun dry the ginger
To dry ginger in the sun, first wash the ginger clean to remove any dirt on its skin. Then remove it using a sharp knife, fruit peeler, or a simple metal spoon.
Cut the peeled ginger into thin slices.
Cut the leaves as thin as possible so they dry faster. Also try to have them of the same thickness so that they dry evenly and at the same time.
After cutting the ginger, the easiest way to dry the ginger slices is to spread the plates on a steel tray and place them in direct sunlight.
Drying ginger in this way takes about 3-4 days. The exact drying time for ginger varies depending on the thickness of the ginger leaves and weather conditions. The thinner the slices of ginger and the hotter the sun, the faster the ginger will dry.
Be careful not to get the ginger slices too dry and woody.
After drying the ginger, you can place the dried leaves in a plastic freezer or a sealed container and keep them in the cupboard just like that. You can also grind it using a grinder and store it in an airtight container in a dry place.
An important point about the ginger obtained in this way: if you want the ginger to have the same wonderful aroma and flavor even after it has been dried, rather than kept in the cupboard, it is better to store it in the freezer and in the refrigerator in winter than to use it; Because ginger and the common cold have an effective and proven relationship.
Of course, fresh ginger can also be easily stored in the freezer, but it can be used for a shorter period of time.
2. Dry the ginger in the oven
The traditional method of drying ginger is more suitable for people who live in villas. Considering apartment living today, it is not possible to use the traditional method for this. If you are in this situation, you can use a fruit oven to dry ginger. The use of this equipment, in addition to maintaining quality after drying, also takes a shorter time. To use this device, do the following:
Cover the oven grid with butter paper, then arrange the ginger slices on it.
Set the oven temperature to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wait about 1.5 to 2 hours for the ginger to dry. During this time, turn the ginger leaves upside down every half hour so that they are evenly heated.
If the minimum oven temperature is more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit, leave the oven door open and turn the ginger slices every 15 to 20 minutes so they don't burn.
After the gingerbread has dried, remove it from the oven and let it cool completely.
After the ginger slices have cooled, check that they are dry and if they are not dry enough, return them to the oven to complete the drying process. It is very important that the ginger be completely dried before packing or powdering because even the slightest moisture in it will spoil the product.
3- Dry the ginger in a dehydrator
If you have a hair dryer at home, you can dry ginger by following these steps and tips:
Like the traditional method, you first need to get good ginger for this.
Then wash and dry it well.
Place the peeled and sliced ginger on the dried fruit trays at an appropriate distance.
If your machine has advanced settings, set it to dry mode, otherwise set it to 57°C.
In this case, drying the ginger depends on the amount of heat and its thickness, but it is best not to raise the temperature above 57 degrees because it may burn rather than dry.
This method usually takes about 24 hours for all of the slices to dry completely. But it is better to visit them every 6-8 hours and, if necessary, collect completely dry ones.
After complete drying, you can collect the leaves and store them in closed containers in a dark and cool place for 5-6 months.
Important points after drying ginger
It seems necessary to consider the following tips after drying ginger.
You can store dried ginger leaves in a closed container in a dry place for 5-6 months and use them to prepare ginger tea or tea.
If you wish, you can grind dried ginger leaves into a powder using an electric grinder and use it to prepare various cakes and muffins.
It is best to keep the ginger powder in the cupboard for one month and keep the extra in a sealed container in the freezer to preserve its flavour.
The conclusion
As you can see, drying ginger at home is very easy and does not require special skills. You should also try making this product at home and keep in mind that homemade ginger powder cannot be compared to market-ready ginger powder in terms of aroma, taste and quality.
