Do You Really Need To Peel Ginger?

You have probably noticed that ginger is everywhere — and for good reason. Sure it's delicious and adds a nice kick to recipes, but best of all, it's incredibly good for you. Healthline lays out a whopping 11 health benefits associated with eating ginger. From alleviating nausea and reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis to potentially lowering cholesterol and protecting against Alzheimer's disease, this small spice is a powerhouse. It's safe to say, for a happier and healthier you, ginger is a great addition to your diet.

For new cooks though, ginger can be intimidating. Dull knives can struggle with the fibrous rhizome. And most recipes call for it to be peeled, which isn't an easy task. Even your favorite peeler can't maneuver around all of those knobs, nooks, and crannies. Because of that, the long-standing advice has been to use a spoon. It can slide over the ginger's topography without removing any flesh. It's vastly superior to a paring knife. Plus, unless you're a knife skills wizard, it's a lot safer.

The next trend in ginger peeling advice is to not peel it at all. Author and recipe developer, Molly Baz, admits to being someone who skips peeling ginger altogether (via Bon Appétit). According to Baz, "I have noticed little to no perceptible flavor difference between peeled and unpeeled ginger," continuing she says, "I'd venture to say the skin likely contains some nutrients that are otherwise going to waste."

Kanchan Koya, Ph.D., explains in a video how the skin is twice as potent as ginger's flesh. So, ginger skin doesn't ruin recipes, rather, it amps up the already substantial health benefits. Without the peeling hurdle, ginger becomes a lot more attractive making it easier to use, while minimizing food waste. All of a sudden, even ginger centric recipes like Garlic Ginger Chicken Wings, and Athrak Soup, are no big deal. That's almost too good to be true.

As with any fruit or vegetable, the CDC recommends washing the ginger. Those knobs can harbor a lot of dirt and debris. So, scrub the ginger under running water and be sure to trim off any damaged areas. After that, bypass the peeling and you can head immediately to grating it for a stir fry, tossing it into a Ginger Spice Smoothie, or brewing a tea, like Ginger-Cayenne-Honey Tisane.

You might be interested to know that ginger isn't the only fruit and vegetable we don't need to peel. Women's Health identifies seven more peels that can stay intact for a flavor and nutrient boost. These include sweet potatoes for vitamin C, antioxidants in carrot skin, and apple peels might fend off cancer.

If you get caught up in all of this ginger excitement and find yourself with too much, don't fret. There are great tips for storing your ginger to keep it fresh for as long as possible.