Food blogger Miranda Valentine gives instructions for chopping ginger. She notes that he ginger should be peeled before cutting, and demonstrates three techniques: slicing, chopping, and mincing.
Step 1: Cut the Ginger Vertically
Before you begin cutting, be sure that
your ginger is peeled. Then, using a sharp chef's knife, cut the ginger lengthwise. You will make a series of long, flat slices,
ideally of the same width. For finer cut ginger, make your slices closer together.
Take your flat slices of ginger
and place them on top of each other. Cut lengthwise again to create
long, thin strips of ginger. Consistent length between cuts is
important for keeping the ginger uniform and allowing it to cook
evenly.
Step 2: Cut the Ginger Horizontally
Turn the ginger 90 degrees and cut horizontally. Be sure to hold the ginger together firmly to allow easier cutting. Once finished, you will have traditional diced ginger.c
If you require minced ginger, simply chop through the pile of ginger again. Repeat until the preferred size is reached.
References
Meet Our Experts
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Miranda Valentine
Miranda Valentine blogs about food and lifestyle at Everything Sounds Better in French. Miranda graduated from the University of Southern Maine and earned her master's degree from the University of Southern California. She works as a contributing writer for Bunker Hill Magazine and Joonbug.com's LA edition.
Tips for Chopping Fresh Ginger
- Peel ginger before chopping
- Cut long, flat slices first
- Cut across the long slices to complete the chop
Choosing Fresh Ginger
Try to avoid ginger that is shriveled, wrinkled, or discolored. Ideally, ginger should have smooth, unblemished skin that's so thin that it appears somewhat translucent. Expect the ginger, good or bad, to be full of gnarls and knobs.c
