Ginger juice is a tasty option to improve your health. However, what tips should you follow when juicing ginger? Should you peel ginger before juicing? Is ginger peel poisonous or safe?
Don’t panic! We are here to reveal all the ginger secrets and health benefits.
Should you peel ginger before juicing?
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At first glance, unpeeled ginger root looks gnarled and doesn’t seem edible. Your first thought is most likely to peel it as soon as possible before juicing ginger, isn’t it?
However, you know that looks can be deceiving. The question is still open, so what about the answer? Although it may differ depending on your personal preference, the main answer is: no, peeling ginger is not necessary. You can juice the fresh ginger along with peel on it, and it will be still good.
So, let’s find out more about peeling ginger and the ways of using ginger peels!
Is ginger peel edible?
You can’t have any doubts that ginger peel is absolutely edible. What is more, this unappetizing part of ginger root is full of benefits.
Despite the specific texture and a bit of bitterness, ginger peels are quite zesty and spicy. You can use it in many recipes, add it to some dishes and ginger tea, or freeze it in an ice cube tray for later.
How safe is it to consume ginger peel?
Consuming unpeeled ginger is completely safe if the peel is cleaned properly. Since there can be dirt and debris with harmful bacteria and pesticides on the ginger peel, you should never neglect the washing part.
Run the fresh ginger under cold water to wash any dirt away. Use your hands or a soft brush to rub all the dirt and debris away from the skin. Then, fully clean ginger is ready to consume or juice.
Pros and cons of consuming the ginger skin
So, is peeling ginger so necessary? There are different points for and against peeling ginger, so the final choice mostly depends on your preferences.
Let’s find out more about the pros and cons of peeling ginger.
Ginger skin benefits
Tip#1. Unpeeled skin is full of beneficial compounds. When you juice ginger along with its skin, it is a good way to retain a maximum of its nutritional value.
Tip #2. Ginger is a popular option in herbal medicine because of its various benefits. Drinking herbal tea with ginger juice is a good natural way to lower your blood sugar.
Tip #3. Since ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, the ginger peel is also full of all the necessary contaminants. It can help with many inflammatory diseases such as sore throat, and prevent such dangerous health issues as heart disease.
Tip #4. Ginger peel is rich in fiber that is beneficial for your digestive system. Drinking such a kind of ginger juice can help you with nausea and many digestive issues.
Tip #5. If you prefer a bit of bitterness in food, then extracting ginger juice from its peel from the unpeeled root is a good choice for you. The peel juice has a bitter taste that some people may dislike.
Keep in mind that young ginger has a better taste as it is not so bitter yet. So, it is more likely that you will enjoy the taste of unpeeled young ginger. However, mature ginger has thicker skin that tastes more bitter.
Ginger skin drawbacks
Tip #1. Washing ginger is always a crucial point. Since the unpeeled skin can contain some dirt and bacteria, it is necessary to wash it thoroughly if you are not planning to peel ginger before juicing.
Unless you have organic ginger, there can be some pesticide traces on the root skin.
To avoid poisonous contaminants, opt for organic ginger that is grown safely and free of pesticides.
Tip #2. Since ginger peel is rough and fibrous, many people can dislike how it tastes. Besides, it changes the taste, flavor, and texture of fresh ginger juice, and that is what you should keep in mind.
Tip #3. For those who regularly juice ginger, peeling the part is necessary. If you keep juicing regularly, the tough peel can affect the juicer while juicing process. At least the juicing process can be much longer than if you previously peel the root.
So, if you don’t want to damage your juicer, it’s better to peel ginger before juicing rather than leave the peel on it.
Tip #4. Remember that ginger peel is bitter, so it can affect the taste of ginger juice. If you are not a fan of bitterness in food, you won’t like the taste of the ginger peels in your juice.
Hence, a good idea is to peel ginger before juicing so that you can get a better taste.
Tip #5. Some health categories should pay attention to how much ginger to consume. Thus, diabetic people or pregnant women should avoid consuming ginger in large amounts as it affects blood sugar and sex hormones. As unpeeled ginger has enhanced properties, it is better to refuse to consume it this way.
Use of ginger peels
You may be surprised but the peels themselves can be widely used as a spicy addition to many foods! For those who find it interesting, here are some using and storing tips below.
Where can you use ginger peels?
Ginger peels taste nice with steamed vegetables and fish. Adding ginger peels to the steamer with these foods gives them a tasty ginger flavor.
As ginger is popular in many Asian dishes and marinades, you can substitute fresh peeled ginger with peels. They can add some extra zesty flavor to many dishes and diversify your meal a lot.
One more great idea is to make a tasty vegetarian ginger broth. You can consume the broth itself or add it to spicy smoothies.
Can you store ginger peel?
Yes, you can. Don’t throw the peels out as they are super-easy to store. Save them for later and use them as you wish.
A good and handy way to store peels is to place them in the freezer. Place the peels in the ice cube tray to store them separately, as they are prone to stick all together if stored in one container. If the frozen peels stick altogether, you can thaw them carefully in warm water.
How to peel ginger before juicing?
Unless you get the organic ginger, we recommend peeling it to dispose of any extra dirt and contaminants on the skin.
Here are two main ways to peel ginger quickly and properly: with a peeler or without one.
Peeling ginger with a peeler
Using a vegetable peeler allows you to peel ginger quickly and efficiently.
Wash the ginger with hot water and start peeling while the skin is still soft. Move the peeler against the ginger to take the skin off evenly.
This is a good way to prepare ginger peels for later if you are planning so.
Peeling ginger without a peeler
Since ginger is an awkward-shaped root, peeling it with a peeler is quite difficult. You need to peel ginger
One of the most popular ways of peeling ginger is the spoon method. As the skin is thin and paper-like, you can easily scrub it off with a spoon edge.
Wash the skin to soften it, and start scrubbing against the ginger to take the skin off. Work gently so as not to damage the fiber part of the root.
This method helps you to save most of the ginger pulp that you can waste while using a peeler.
Never opt for knives when peeling ginger! They can make more damage to the delicate root and scrub the fiber part off.
How to juice ginger efficiently?
Ginger juice is one of the most popular and beneficial fresh juices. However, juicing is a process that requires some extra tips.
Generally, it depends on which type of juicer you have and the size of ginger slices you place inside it.
There are three main types of juicers:
- Triturating juicers
- Masticating juicers
- Centrifugal juicers
Triturating juicers are the best bet for those who are planning to get more juice. Because of their high squeezing properties, the amount of juices increases significantly.
If you prefer to peel ginger before juicing, opt for the slow masticating juicers. They can squeeze the ginger pulp thoroughly, so you get the best juices. Moreover, there is much less risk to get such a juicer clogged.
If you get a centrifugal juicer, keep in mind that you can face the clog issue. Because of faster spinning and smaller openings, the pulp is prone to clog the mechanism. So, when juicing ginger with such a juicer, chop the pulp into smaller slices that are easier to deal with.
Keep in mind that many juicers can’t deal with juicing unpeeled roots! Since skin may be a bit too rough for squeezing in juicers, you can end up with a broken juicer.
Final thoughts
As you can see, peeling is not a necessary part of dealing with ginger. You can consume and juice it with the skin on, or use the peels as spicy additions to many foods. Just remember about the juicing tips with the skin on.
Enjoy your fresh ginger juice and share more cooking tips in the comments below!
FAQs
Is it okay to juice ginger with the skin on?
Generally, it is okay to peel ginger with the skin on. However, there are two crucial points to keep in mind:
#1. Always wash the ginger root before juicing it to dispose of all the dirt and debris on the skin.
#2. Don’t overuse unpeeled juicing as it can affect your juicer. Remember that juicing the unpeeled root regularly can damage the juicer.
Is it OK to eat the skin on ginger?
Since ginger peels are edible, you can consume them in many dishes. Depending on your taste, you can add them to fish dishes, perfume steamed vegetables, use them as salad dressings, or make ginger tea.
Ginger peel is full of benefits as it contains the same nutrients as the ginger plum does. So, if you want to increase the nutritional value of your food, leaving the skin on is a good idea.
Do you need to peel ginger and turmeric before juicing?
Neither ginger nor turmeric roots are necessary to peel. You can wash their skin thoroughly before juicing and make use of all their parts.
However, be careful as turmeric is prone to stain while juicing.
Is it necessary to peel ginger root?
Generally, there is no need to peel ginger before juicing. Since ginger skin has many health benefits, you can leave it while juicing. Just wash the root skin thoroughly in hot water to get rid of extra contaminants.
However, the outer skin can change the taste, flavor, freshness, and some other properties of ginger juice. If you don’t feel like juicing ginger with the skin, the best idea is to peel it completely.