Not only does ginger juice offer a wide range of health benefits, it can be added to a variety of dishes and beverages to add an extra note of flavor. The most effective method of extracting juice from ginger root is to use a juicer, however it is a rather expensive device that few people own. Alternatively, you can cut the root into small pieces, blend it with water, and then squeeze the pulp. If you don't have an extractor or blender, you can grate the ginger and then squeeze it with cheesecloth (or cheesecloth). Since fresh ginger juice has a limited shelf life, it is advisable to use it immediately and freeze the excess amount.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Extract the Ginger Juice Using a Grater
Step 1. Wash and dry the ginger root
Rinse it thoroughly under cold running water by scrubbing it with your fingers or a vegetable brush, then pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towels to dry.
- Alternatively, you can soak the root in a mixture of cold water and baking soda for 15 minutes. This combination is also effective for washing fruit or vegetables. Fill a bowl with cold water, add a teaspoon of baking soda, then stir to help it melt before soaking the ginger.
- The amount of juice you can extract from the root depends on its size. If you only need 1 or 2 teaspoons (5-10 ml) of juice, wash and cut a piece of root about 2.5-5 cm long. If you need more, you can use 250g of ginger to make about 150ml of juice, depending on the extraction method.
- If the ginger root is shriveled or has blemishes, it is best to peel it. If it is fresh and free of bruises, you can grate it with the peel.
Step 2. Grate the ginger with a small hole or blade grater (such as the Microplane)
If you want to use a regular 4-sided grater, choose the one with the smallest holes. Alternatively, you can use the Microplane or one of its many imitations. The characteristic of the Microplane grater is to have small thin and very sharp blades instead of the classic tips. Place a bowl right under the grater to collect the grated ginger pulp.
- The microplane has a slim and elongated shape. It is generally used to grate lemon zest, but it is also excellent for ginger.
- If you don't have any type of grater available, you can grind the ginger with a garlic press. Cut it into very small pieces (about 1 centimeter), insert them into the garlic press and crush them firmly to break up the pulp.
Step 3. Squeeze the grated ginger with cheesecloth
Pour the pulp into a square-shaped piece of gauze about 60 cm long on each side. Wrap the fabric around the pulp into a ball, hold it over a tureen or bowl and squeeze it firmly to extract the juice from the grated ginger.
- Keep squeezing until you have extracted as much liquid as possible.
- Squeezing the grated ginger pulp is simple and does not require expensive appliances, such as a blender or extractor. However, this method is less efficient and allows you to extract less juice than the others.
Method 2 of 3: Extract the Ginger Juice Using a Blender
Step 1. Wash and dry 150g of ginger
Rinse the root thoroughly under cold running water, rubbing it with your fingers or a vegetable brush, then pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towels.
Decide how much ginger to use based on the amount of juice you need. With this method, blending 150 g of ginger with water can make about 250-350 ml of juice. If you only need a small amount of juice, blend about 3 to 5 cm of ginger root with 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 ml) of water
Step 2. Cut the ginger into pieces about one centimeter in size
Place the root on the cutting board and cut it into small coarse pieces so as not to have difficulty blending it.
If the ginger root is fresh and flawless, there is no need to peel it. If not, it is best to remove the peel and also any damaged or discolored parts
Step 3. Blend the ginger with 125-250ml of water
After cutting it into small pieces, transfer it to the blender. Add the water and blend the root for a couple of minutes or until you get a pale, homogeneous mixture.
- The pulp should be blended with water to facilitate the work of the blender blades, but consider that the more water you use, the more diluted and less concentrated the ginger juice will be. Start with 125ml of water and only add more if the mixture doesn't feel fluid enough.
- To get more flavor out of the ginger root, you can blend it with a mixture consisting of one part of food alcohol at 40 degrees and four parts of water. If you are concerned about the alcohol content of the finished product, you can simmer the juice for 1-2 hours so that most of the alcohol evaporates.
Step 4. Squeeze the pureed ginger pulp into cheesecloth
Cover a bowl with cheesecloth, leaving it a little loose so it can flex and hold even the largest pieces of pulp. Pour the pureed pulp into the bowl, then wrap the gauze around it and squeeze it until you have extracted as much liquid as possible.
- Since you have blended the ginger with the water, the final product will be less concentrated, but still full of flavor.
- If you wish, you can simmer the juice to let the water evaporate so that it has a more concentrated flavor.
Step 5. Reduce the juice for a more intense flavor
For a more concentrated ginger juice, pour it into a saucepan, turn on the stove over medium heat and bring it to a gentle boil. At that point, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for about an hour or until it has reduced by half or 1/3. If you've also used alcohol in addition to water, you can let the juice simmer for 1-2 hours so that most of the alcohol will also evaporate.
A liquid is said to be simmering when small air bubbles rise from the bottom of the pot and break the surface roughly every second. If the bubbles are large and more frequent, it means that the juice is boiling, so it is necessary to lower the heat
Method 3 of 3: Obtain the Ginger Juice Using an Extractor
Step 1. Wash and dry 250g of ginger
Rinse the root thoroughly under cold running water, rubbing it with your fingers or a vegetable brush, then pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towels to dry.
If you use a juicer, from 250 g of ginger you will get about 200 ml of concentrated juice
Step 2. Cut the root into pieces a couple of centimeters large
There is no need to peel it, unless it is wrinkled or has imperfections. Cut it into small coarse pieces to easily insert them into the mouth of the extractor.
If necessary, remove and discard imperfect parts of the root
Step 3. Insert the pieces of ginger into the extractor
Place a bowl and a tureen under the spout from which the juice will flow. Turn on the appliance, insert the pieces of ginger into the upper opening of the extractor and push them gently downwards with the special accessory. Instructions for use may vary depending on the model, so consult the owner's manual.
After you have extracted the juice from the ginger root, turn off the appliance and unplug it from the socket. Follow the instructions in the instruction manual to disassemble and clean the extractor in the most appropriate way
Step 4. If you want to make a juice with mixed ingredients, start with ginger
If you want to incorporate ginger into one of your favorite recipes, ginger must be the first ingredient you put in the extractor. Use a 3 to 5 cm long piece of root cut into coarse pieces. Place them in the extractor first, then add the ingredients with the highest water content, such as pears, carrots, celery or spinach.
- Fruits and vegetables that have a high water content will "wash" the inside of the appliance and help you extract as much juice and flavor as possible from the ginger.
- Ginger has a strong, pungent taste. You can use it to give an extra touch to any combination of ingredients. For example, try using a piece of ginger root, 3 pears and 2 celery stalks to get a healthy and very tasty juice. Alternatively, you can use a piece of ginger root, 2 fennel, half a cucumber, half a green apple, and a handful of mint leaves.
Advice
- Fresh ginger juice will only last 1 or 2 days and you will need to store it in the refrigerator. It's best to use what you need right away and then freeze the surplus (it will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer). You can pour it into an ice cube mold and freeze it so you can use just the amount you need each time.
- Try this recipe for a refreshing drink that combines the taste of ginger and lemon: mix 350ml of ginger juice with 125ml of lemon juice, 100-115g of sugar and 1.7 liters of water.
