This Is the Only Way You Should Peel Ginger

You’ll wish you knew this trick years ago.

By Kristy Alpert 

Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

Fresh ginger adds so much flavor to both savory and sweet dishes, delivering a snap of heat and a mild sweetness with just a pinch, but peeling it with a vegetable peeler can be a pain. Although the paper-like skin on ginger is edible (once washed, of course), by peeling ginger you’ll get all the flavor without the distracting texture. Thankfully, this lumpy aromatic root is easy to peel with one simple tool: a spoon.

“With a vegetable peeler, you lose some of the important parts of the ginger in the peeling process and ginger fibers can create a mess and get stuck in the blades,” explains Seamus Mullen, chef and author of Real Food Heals ($18, Amazon). Mullen learned this simple trick years ago after decades spent struggling with a vegetable peeler. “With a spoon, you’re able to get every part of the usable ginger. The spoon helps dig into nooks and crannies of the ginger not accessible with a standard peeler. It’s a much easier and faster process.”ADVERTISING

CREDIT: ANDY LYONS

How to Peel Ginger with a Spoon

Learn how to peel ginger with a spoon using chef Mullen’s simple steps:

Step 1

Start with ginger root that is firm and moist (shriveled or dried out ginger will be hard to peel), and then find a spoon that feels comfortable for the size of your hand. “A traditional spoon should work just fine,” Mullen says.

Step 2

Hold the ginger in one hand and the spoon in the other, turning the spoon down toward the ginger so the convex part is facing toward you.

Step 3

With the edge of a spoon, gently scrape down on the ginger to peel the skin away.

“Make sure your hand is at the base of the spoon and the ginger is as close to the base of the bowl of the spoon as possible for maximum control,” Mullen advises.

Now your ginger is ready to slice or grate before adding it teas, stir-fry, or baked goods.