Of course, ginger lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. It makes little difference for all forms whether it is opened or unopened, as long as it properly re-sealed. Basically root is purchased opened because the root that you got is actually a "finger" from the "hand" of ginger (unless you purchase and use a ton!).

*The shelf life of peeled ginger can be extended to 2-3 Months if stored as suggested below in the how to store ginger section.

How to tell if Ginger is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, sight is the best way to tell if your ginger root has gone bad. Some common traits of ginger root going bad are a soft and moist texture. The cut end of the root will eventually become moldy and unsafe to eat. Peeled and cut ginger will darken around the edges as it is going bad.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Ginger to extend its shelf life?

To extend the shelf life of ginger it is best to store the raw root with the brown skin intact in the refrigerator in a sealed brown bag in the vegetable drawer.

*Once the ginger root has been peeled and sliced or chopped, the best choice to extend the shelf life of chopped ginger is to add a little dry sherry and store it in a sealed jar in the refrigerator. You can later use the sherry to flavor your stir fry when the ginger is gone! (just another example of using good food).

Peeled and grated ginger should be mixed with salt to make a paste and then stored in a sealed plastic container in the refrigerator or freezer.

Dried, ground, or crystallized ginger should be stored in a cool dark pantry in a sealed container. Spices with the moisture removed do not really go bad (unless they get wet), but they loose their potency over time and will no longer add flavor to food. If the aroma is gone, the flavor is most likely also gone from the dried ginger.

Ginger can be frozen for a longer shelf life, either whole or in a paste with salt added. Both options should be wrapped in plastic wrap and then stored in a freezer safe container. Spread the paste on a sheet of plastic wrap and then roll the wrap so that small quantities can be unfrozen as needed.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Ginger:

How long is Ginger good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does ginger last? That depends. How long do bakery products last? In general, ginger lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Ginger lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Ginger.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Ginger shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!