With its rich pungent flavors, a tablespoon of nutritious ginger garlic paste is perfect not just for Indian dishes, but a variety of stir-fries, soups and more. The easiest way to make ginger and garlic paste is with a food processor. Making a larger batch is always better because freezing ginger and garlic paste is the only way that you will be able to enjoy it whenever you need it.
So, can you freeze ginger and garlic paste?
Yes, you can freeze ginger and garlic paste for that spicy taste all year round. A smooth ginger and garlic paste will freeze and thaw very well and keep its freshness.
To help you freeze your ginger and garlic paste easily, in this post I discuss what you will need to do to prepare it for freezing, how best to thaw it and of course, a host of various other ginger garlic-related matters!
Can You Freeze ginger garlic paste– Yes, And Here’s How to Do It
Storing ginger and garlic paste in the freezer allows you to buy it and keep it at its best for longer.
The ginger in a store that has been on the shelf for a long time has most likely been dug a long time ago. So, instead of buying old ginger, it is much easier to purchase ginger when it is fresh and freeze it to keep it fresh. You can freeze it easily without the quality being affected.
Garlic is a bit different. This close onion relative, which you can buy all year round, is harvested and then dried. It is also essential to get fresh garlic and not the one that has been sitting on a store shelf for a long time.
Ginger garlic paste is nutritious and budget-friendly, and whether you use it fresh or frozen adds texture and flavor to Indian dishes, soups, stir-fries, salads, and more. The taste lifts the dish up with a light spicy flavor.
How to Store Fresh ginger and fresh garlic
Ginger can last 3 weeks when stored in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer, although it will usually be at its best in the first week or so.
The longer you keep it in the refrigerator, the dryer it will become. To prevent the drying process of happening too fast, keep it in a ziplock bag.
Even if you are freezing your ginger, do store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to freeze it.
Freezing food is a perfect way to keep it fresh. Check out also how to freeze sardines, yellow wax beans, or parsley.
If you cut a piece of ginger and continue to store it in the refrigerator, pat dry it with a paper towel before putting it back into the fridge.
If you want to store ginger in the freezer, it is always best to peel it first and cut it into chunks. This way, the processing will be more comfortable. Store it into airtight containers or plastic bags.
Garlic can last in the refrigerator for 1 week if it is peeled. If you chop it, it is better to put it in oil; otherwise, it will oxidize in 2 days.
Unpeeled garlic on the bulb can be kept in the refrigerator for 8 weeks.
If you want to store garlic in the freezer, it is always best to peel it first and finely chop it. Store it in ice cube trays or airtight containers.
If you put whole peeled cloves in the freezer, they will become translucent and soft when you thaw them.
What Do You Need to Know Before Freezing ginger garlic paste?
Frozen ginger and garlic paste can be stored in the freezer for at least 6 months.
Like other vegetables and fruits, ginger and garlic contain enzymes, bacteria, and other microorganisms that, over time, begin to break down the structure, altering its flavor, color, and texture.
Ginger garlic paste should always be put in the freezer as a paste and not as separate ingredients. You could store ginger and garlic separately, but the paste’s consistency made from thawed ginger and garlic won’t be the same as if you would make the paste before freezing.
It is always best not to freeze the whole batch of ginger garlic paste because it is hard to break it into chunks once it’s frozen.
ESSENTIAL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR FREEZING FOOD
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The best way to store ginger garlic paste is to place it in ice cube trays. Ice cube trays shape the ginger-garlic paste into lovely portion-sized cubes. When you fancy some Indian curry, just take out a cube or two from the freezer and keep the rest in without thawing it.
How Do You Prepare fresh ginger garlic paste for Freezing?
To make ginger garlic paste, first, peel the ginger and garlic.
You can prepare fresh ginger garlic paste by grating ginger by hand with a box grinder and chopping garlic or a food processor.
When you do it by hand, use the fine shredder on a sturdy box grater. Ginger is a root, and you will have difficulties shredding it if the grater is not sturdy enough. You could also grate garlic, but it is much easier to use a sharp knife and really finely chop it.
The best option is to use a food processor. This is also the most simple option. Just peel ginger and garlic and plate in the food processor. Using a blade, mix the ingredients until they are formed into a paste. If needed, add a drizzle of water to ensure a paste-like consistency.
When you are done chopping, grating, or mixing, use a spatula and insert the paste into a plastic or silicone ice cube tray. Leave it in a tray until it freezes. You can take cubes of ginger garlic paste out of ice cube trays right after they froze and place them in a plastic bag if you need ice cube trays for another batch.
How to Defrost ginger and garlic paste
Taking a small chunk from a frozen ginger and garlic paste can be a pain if you froze the whole batch together, and you need just a tablespoon for your curry.
It is always best to freeze ginger and garlic paste in ice cube trays, to prevent the frustration of cutting frozen ginger and garlic paste into chunks.
Defrosting ginger garlic paste is very simple. You can take a few cubes out of the freezer and put them on the kitchen counter overnight.
But it is not necessary to thaw ginger garlic paste before use. If you are making curry, soup, or any other dish that requires slow sauteing, then simply throw a cube or two into the cooking dish.
But if you make a stir fry or a dish where the cooking process is fast, then it is better to thaw ginger and garlic paste before you use it.
Defrosted ginger and garlic paste can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a few weeks.
Best tools for making ginger garlic paste
Ice cube trays
Ice cube trays
Budget-friendly food processor
How to make ginger and garlic paste recipe
Video recipe for ginger and garlic paste
Servings: You can make about 20 ice cube sized portions. One ice cube is approximately 1 tablespoon.
Ingredients:
140g Ginger = 5 oz
140g Garlic = 5 oz
Or if you want to make more just use the same amounts of both
And some water to make a smooth paste
Ok, let’s cook:
First, peel the ginger and garlic.
If the ginger root is too big, cut it into smaller pieces. Put ginger, garlic, and water into a food processor and mix for about a minute.
Then open the cover, arrange the ingredients a bit with a spatula and mix again. Repeat the process until you get a smooth paste.
Put the paste in a tight air jar, store it in your fridge, put it into ice cube tray, and store it in the freezer.
When you need it, just take a cube or two out of your freezer and use it with your favorite Asian dish.
Summary
In summary, yes, you can freeze ginger and garlic paste. Freezing is easy but is best done after the ginger and garlic are finely grated or mixed.
Placing it in ice cube trays saves freezer space and enables you to use it cube by cube.
Once thawed, your frozen ginger and garlic paste can be used for a variety of Indian dishes, or you can just add the frozen ginger and garlic paste directly into your curry or stir fry.
Ginger and garlic paste
Ingredients
- 5 oz garlic 140g
- 5 oz ginger 140g
Instructions
- First, peel the ginger and garlic.If the ginger root is too big, cut it into smaller pieces. Put ginger, garlic, and water into a food processor and mix for about a minute. Then open the cover, arrange the ingredients a bit with a spatula and mix again. Repeat the process until you get a smooth paste. Put the paste in a tight air jar, store it in your fridge, put it into ice cube tray, and store it in the freezer.When you need it, just take a cube or two out of your freezer and use it with your favorite Asian dish.
