The Best Ginger Substitutes

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If you are missing your Ginger ingredient, here are The Best Ginger Substitutes. These easy options will help you replace the Ginger ingredient so you don’t waste your dish.

Close image of a ginger root, slice ginger and a bowl of ground ginger.

Best Substitutes for Fresh Ginger:

We love using ginger. It is one ingredient that when you recipe calls for it then it is one to not skip. It is a unique spice that is become more popular around the world.

Ginger, a flowering plant, originated in Asia and is showing up more and more in kitchens across America. We use it frequently in Crock Pot Apricot Chicken Recipe to our favorite Soft and Chewy Gingerbread Cookies.

We have gathered Fresh Ginger Substitutes. These substitute for ginger will help save your recipe and still elevate the flavor.

1. Ground Ginger:

The best substitute for freshly grated or frozen ginger is ground ginger. You may even hear it called dried ginger. Ground ginger has a milder taste that fresh ginger. So you will miss the spicy kick that fresh ginger gives to your recipe.

When grounding fresh ginger, the oils are no longer present. When we are baking or cooking our dishes, we usually will just use ground ginger. It is easier to add and you will still get that ginger flavor.

¼ teaspoon of ground ginger for 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger

2. Frozen Ginger:

If you use ginger, then I would plan ahead and freeze ginger. Even though fresh ginger root does stay fresh for awhile, frozen ginger will make it last even longer.

If you use slice ginger more, I would cut the ginger root with a sharp knife in several chunks and then freeze. Then freeze the ginger in an air tight container. Frozen ginger is easy to use, just peel and grate when you are ready to use.

For recipes that call for slice ginger, remove one of the ginger chunks and let it thaw. Then slice and add to your recipe.

Substituting Frozen Ginger for Fresh Ginger is just the same. It is a 1:1 ratio.

3. Minced Ginger:

You might find minced ginger in stores. It usually in the same area where they sell minced garlic at the grocery store. Minced Ginger has the same kick that fresh ginger has it is just pressed or minced to release the oils.

Minced Ginger is usually packed with oils as well as salt and sugar. So check the ingredients before purchasing. This maybe good for your sweet and savory dishes.

Substituting Minced Ginger for Fresh Ginger is just the same. It is a 1:1 ratio.

Best Substitutes for Ground Ginger:

Ground Ginger substitute are a lot like ground spice. When a recipe calls for ground ginger it is easier to substitute with one of these dried spices because it is in same dried form.

With these ground ginger replacements it is usually a 1:1 ration for substitutions.

1. Fresh Ginger:

If all that you have is fresh ginger and your recipe calls for ground ginger, then you will need to grate it to get the right measurement. Ginger also has health benefits with anti inflammatory benefits.

Crystallized ginger is great in baked goods. It is cooked in sugar water and then rolled in sugar for candied ginger.

2. All Spice:

All Spice replaces fresh ginger for your soups, stews, sauces, stir fries and savory dishes. It is not suited for bake goods. All Spice has a sweet and spicy taste, so it is very similar to ginger.

We recommend starting with about ½ teaspoon of all spice and if you need to add more you can.

3. Cinnamon:

If you are baking and are out of ground ginger, Cinnamon is an excellent choice to substitute. Cinnamon resembles ginger with its sweet and warm flavor.

Cinnamon also can be used for savory dishes that calls for ginger.

Start with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and add more if desire

4. Nutmeg:

Like Cinnamon, nutmeg is also a good substitution for Ground Ginger. It has a sweet and savory flavor great in many bake goods and other recipes. It does have a different taste, so make sure to start off small when adding to your dish.

Pumpkin Pie Spice is also a good substitute.