Can you juice press ginger?

Ginger is a versatile and flavorful root that can add a punch of spice and aroma to many dishes and drinks. One popular way to enjoy ginger is by juicing it and drinking it straight or adding it to other juices and smoothies. But can you actually juice press ginger? Let’s take a look at the pros, cons, and methods for juicing fresh ginger root.

Pros of Juicing Ginger

There are several benefits to juicing ginger rather than eating it raw or cooking with it:

• Concentrates the health benefits – Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and digestive properties. Juicing ginger can help concentrate these healthful compounds.
• Easier to consume – The fiber content in raw ginger can make it challenging to eat a lot of ginger at once. Juicing removes the fiber, making it easier to consume more ginger and get a concentrated dose of nutrients.
• Adds flavor to other juices – Ginger adds a nice kick of spice and warmth to juices. It pairs well with fruits like apple, lemon, and orange.
• Easy shot of ginger – Taking a ginger shot each morning is a great wellness habit for immune and digestion support. Juicing ginger makes this daily ritual simple.

Cons of Juicing Ginger

There are a few potential downsides to juicing ginger as well:

• Loss of fiber – When ginger is juiced, the insoluble fiber content is removed. Fiber provides many health benefits and helps you feel full. Eat whole ginger too to get fiber.
• Spicy taste – Ginger juice straight up can be very concentrated, spicy, and pungent. You may need to dilute it or mix it with other juices.
• No juicer needed – Ginger juice can be made by grating ginger and squeezing out the liquid. No fancy equipment required!

Best Ways to Juice Ginger

While juicing ginger is simple, there are some methods that work better than others. Here are some of the best ways to juice fresh ginger root:

Use a Centrifugal Juicer

A centrifugal juicer that spins at high speeds is the most efficient way to juice ginger. It can effectively shred and strain fresh ginger root. Centrifugal juicers are fast, but may expose the ginger juice to more oxygen.

Use a Cold Press Juicer

Cold press or masticating juicers crush and press ginger to extract the juice. The process is slower and yields less juice, but it may preserve more nutrients. There is less oxidation of the juice with cold press juicers.

Grate and Squeeze

Ginger can be juiced without any equipment at all. Simply use a grater to shred ginger root into pulp, then wrap the pulp in a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer and squeeze out the juice by hand. This yields a good amount of ginger juice easily.

Blend and Strain

Another DIY method is to chop ginger into small pieces, then blend briefly in a high-speed blender with a small amount of water. Pour the ginger mixture through a strainer to separate the juice from the solid pulp.

How Much Ginger to Juice

When juicing ginger, around 1 inch of fresh ginger root will yield approximately 1-2 tablespoons of ginger juice. Here is a handy conversion table for how much ginger root equals ginger juice:

Fresh Ginger Root	Ginger Juice Yield
1 inch	1-2 tablespoons
1 knob or thumb-size piece (about 2 inches)	2-4 tablespoons
4 inches	1/4 – 1/3 cup

The ginger juice yield can vary based on the juicing method used, moisture content of the ginger root, and your juicer’s efficiency. For a single serving ginger shot, aim for around 1-2 inches of ginger root which will produce 1-4 tablespoons of juice.

How to Juice Ginger Root

Ready to try juicing some fresh ginger root? Here is a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Wash the unpeeled ginger root thoroughly under cool running water.
2. Trim off any dried ends or tips.
3. Cut the ginger root into smaller pieces about 1 inch in size.
4. For centrifugal juicers, drop the ginger pieces directly into the juicer chute. Apply gentle pressure with the pusher.
5. For masticating juicers, insert the ginger pieces and run the juicer as usual.
6. To grate and squeeze, shred the ginger with a grater, wrap in cheesecloth, and squeeze juice out by hand.
7. To blend and strain, blend ginger with a small amount of water, then pour through a fine mesh strainer.
8. Store ginger juice in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.

What Ginger Juice Tastes Like

Ginger juice straight from the juicer is extremely potent. It may have an intense spicy, warming, and slightly tangy flavor. The taste of ginger juice also has notes of lemon, pepper, and pine. It’s quite strong compared to the milder taste of cooked ginger. Diluting ginger juice in a glass of water or juice makes it more palatable as a shot.

Health Benefits of Ginger Juice

Drinking ginger juice provides concentrated wellness benefits. Here are some of the top evidence-based health benefits of ginger juice:

• Reduces nausea – Compounds in ginger can help relieve nausea related to motion sickness, pregnancy, and chemotherapy.
• Improves digestion – Ginger stimulates the production of saliva, bile, and gastric juices to support healthy digestion.
• Decreases inflammation – Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds like gingerols that can reduce inflammation throughout the body.
• Lowers blood sugar – Studies show ginger juice may lower blood sugar levels and improve long-term blood sugar control.
• Provides antioxidants – Ginger is rich in antioxidants that can help neutralize damaging free radicals and prevent disease.

How to Use Ginger Juice

Here are some great ways to use fresh ginger juice:

• As a wellness shot first thing in the morning
• Added to green juice or fruit juice recipes
• Blend with lemon, apple cider vinegar, and honey for a probiotic tonic
• Mix with carrot, turmeric, and orange juice for an anti-inflammatory juice
• Combine with hot water, honey, and lemon for an immune-boosting tea
• Use in place of grated ginger in stir fries, soups, and other dishes
• Mix into smoothies for a spicy kick
• Drizzle over grain bowls

Can You Juice Old Ginger?

For maximum juicing results and health benefits, it’s best to use fresh young ginger root. Mature ginger that is fibrous or starting to go bad may not juice very well. Signs that ginger is past its prime and won’t juice properly include:

• Wrinkled, thin, brittle skin
• Dry, mushy texture
• Mold or dark spots
• Shriveled with a dull, matte look
• Soft spots or areas

For the most juice and the strongest flavor, opt for firm, smooth ginger that is heavy for its size with tight, shiny skin. Proper storage will extend ginger’s shelf life and juicing viability. Store fresh, unpeeled ginger in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

Can You Juice Powdered Ginger?

Dried, ground ginger powder can be used to make ginger juice by reconstituting it with water first. Here is a simple method:

• Combine 1-2 teaspoons ground ginger powder with 2 tablespoons hot water and stir to form a paste.
• Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes to rehydrate the ginger, stirring occasionally.
• Pour the ginger paste through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, pressing out as much liquid as possible.
• Discard the leftover pulp. Add more hot water if desired to dilute the juice to taste.

While this DIY ginger juice from powder works in a pinch, it won’t be quite as fresh and flavorful as juice pressed from raw ginger root. Powdered ginger contains less volatile oils and active compounds. For the best quality and most benefits, juice fresh ginger whenever possible.

Does Ginger Juice Go Bad?

Like other vegetable juices, ginger juice will only stay fresh for a limited time. Properly stored, ginger juice will stay good for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. To tell if ginger juice has gone bad, check for these signs of spoilage:

• Cloudy appearance
• Fermented smell
• Fizzy bubbles
• Strange colors or discoloration
• Mold growth
• Slimy texture
• Unpleasant sour taste

For long term storage, ginger juice can be frozen in ice cube trays or muffin tins. The frozen ginger cubes can be popped out and stored in freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw cubes as needed to add ginger juice to recipes and beverages.

Conclusion

Juicing ginger root is an easy and delicious way to leverage its many health perks. Ginger juice delivers a concentrated dose of anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and other beneficial nutrients. Just a small amount of fresh ginger root can produce a tangy, spicy juice with powerful medicinal properties. A daily shot of ginger juice can support digestion, blood sugar levels, immunity, and more.

While the strong taste of straight ginger juice may take some getting used to, it can be diluted or blended with other juices. Ginger pairs nicely with fruits like apple, lemon, and orange. Get creative with this versatile ingredient and you’ll find countless ways to enjoy ginger juice and its multitude of health benefits.