How to properly dry ginger at home
Since ancient times, ginger has been used in traditional medicine recipes as a healing product. Fresh product can be purchased in stores almost at any time of the year, but from time to time its cost becomes unacceptably high. An alternative option is to dry ginger at home, but knowing how to do it correctly is important to preserve its valuable properties.
Why dry ginger root at all
There are several reasons to try dry ginger root yourself. The plant is considered to be unique in its natural and medicinal properties. It is used in many folk recipes to maintain and restore the tone of the body, used for the preparation of decoctions and teas, as an ingredient for cosmetic masks, as a spice for culinary dishes.
The most famous masks are those in which ginger with lemon and olive oil are present as components. Such a remedy quickly relieves skin laxity, reduces the severity of the first wrinkles around the eyes and lips, normalizes skin color and relieves inflammation.
The root is often added to tea or coffee to tone and energize.
The plant creates the property of "vigorous" mustard; pomegranate seeds are often added to drinks for making medicinal teas.
There is not always the time and desire to go to the store to purchase ginger. In some periods, such a product may be temporarily absent from store shelves, or its cost may be quite high. The presence of such a product on hand always makes it possible, if necessary, to use a valuable product, but most importantly, to learn how to dry and store it correctly. Fresh root can deteriorate and, if defective, quickly becomes unusable. The dried root can be used for 2 years without losing its healing properties.
A few words about the benefits of ginger root
Before using the root vegetable and drying the ginger root, it is worth learning about its beneficial properties. The healing qualities of the product are due to the presence of active elements.
Using the root has the following effects:
- reduces nausea, therefore it is often used during pregnancy, sailing trips and undergoing chemotherapy;
- reduces cholesterol levels, helps cleanse blood vessels;
- improves blood clotting properties;
- relieves inflammation and swelling;
- removes toxins;
- effectively fights against worms;
- improves immunity;
- improves bone structure.
The use of ginger helps to quickly relieve fatigue and restore strength. Due to the quality of artery cleaning, it is often prescribed as a prophylactic agent after a stroke.
The plant helps in the treatment of psychoemotional disorders associated with the appearance of unreasonable fears and anxiety.
It is important to be moderate in taking ginger, as the root can cause insomnia when consumed a lot.
Ginger root - what is it
There are many varieties of ginger today. The most common white species, which has a light color with a slight yellowish tinge, over time, the root may turn brown. In most cases, it is this variety that is chosen in order to dry the product.
On sale you can find black ginger, roots with incredible bright green and yellow colors and even blue veins.
Root vegetables can have different shapes and different tastes and smells, which can resemble an orange. Basically, black and white ginger are one plant variety and differ only in the way they are harvested and processed. Regardless of the variety, all ginger roots have one feature - when ripe, they acquire the property of pungency.
How to properly dry ginger root
Drying of food products involves preliminary preparation of raw materials. For purchase, choose only a solid root without obvious signs of damage. The structure of the root should be firm and the surface should not be severely wrinkled.
You can dry the root using the following cutting methods:
- thin plates;
- small cubes;
- using a coarse grater;
- in a blender.
The latter method is used when it is required to obtain a dry mixture in the form of a powder. The root crop is dried unpeeled, since a large amount of nutrients is lost when the peel is cut. To reduce tearing, it is recommended to work with the root under cool running water.
Natural warmth
The simplest way, in which dried plates can be obtained with minimal time costs, and this does not require special devices. Cooking requires an open area with direct sunlight.
Ginger, cut into thin slices, is laid out in a thin layer on paper and left in the sun. To exclude the ingress of insects and products of their vital activity from above, it is recommended to provide cover with gauze.
It is recommended to turn the slices at least 2 times during the day to achieve an even drying effect.
At night, the dried root crop is brought into the room, and, if necessary, repeat the process the next day.
Dryer
In an electric dryer, ginger is dried in such a way that there is a small gap between adjacent plates. The layer should not be too thick and uneven, otherwise it will not be possible to achieve uniform drying. To achieve the desired effect, the trays are periodically reversed. You can dry, dry ginger in this way for 6 to 9 hours, the temperature regime is recommended to be set to 60 C.
Oven
The ginger will dry in the oven when stored for 2.5 hours at 50 C. Previously, the sheet is covered with baking paper, on top of which ginger plates are laid out in a thin layer. After this time, the temperature is brought to 70 C and stand until ready. If the oven has a convection function, it is recommended to turn it on. The average time to obtain the finished dry product is 5 hours.
Convection oven
Drying in a microwave oven makes it possible to get a quick result, since the process takes an average of 1.5 to 3 hours. To do this, the technique is set to a temperature regime of 70 C and withstand the required time.The duration directly depends on the cutting method used, the smaller the size of the pieces, the faster you can get a dry product.
Attic rooms
This method is ideal for private home owners. How to dry ginger properly:
- wash thoroughly, remove damaged areas, dry;
- cut into thin slices;
- spread out on a flat surface in a thin layer;
- turn over periodically to prevent mold.
It is important that natural air circulation occurs in the attic and that high humidity is not observed, the temperature should not be low. Failure to comply with such requirements will not achieve the desired effect, and the ginger will begin to mold.
