How to Grate Ginger in 6 Steps

Although often referred to as ginger root, ginger actually comes from the rhizome (underground stem) of Zingiber officinale, a tropical flowering plant from the same family as cardamom and turmeric. The sharp bite of raw fresh ginger comes from gingerol, an aromatic compound that transforms into the sweeter zingerone when heated or dried, making ginger an especially versatile ingredient. You can mince, julienne, grate, or cut ginger root before adding pieces of ginger to dishes.

You can grate ginger using a box grater, a microplane, or a specialized grater for ginger, such as a Japanese ginger grater. Follow these steps to prepare your ginger for grating:

1. 1. Select fresh ginger root. If the ginger root is very soft, freeze the ginger for a few minutes. This will harden the ginger and make it easier to grate.
2. 2. Peel your ginger. You can use a paring knife, but the easiest way to peel ginger is with the edge of a spoon. Press the edge of the spoon against the ginger skin, apply pressure, and scrape off the ginger skin. Avoid using a vegetable peeler to peel the ginger, because it will cut off large pieces of the ginger root. (Though ginger skin can be tough and fibrous, it is edible, and you can grate the entire ginger root if you’ve thoroughly washed it.)
3. 3. Prepare your microplane or grater. Place the microplane or grater vertically on a cutting board.
4. 4. Move the ginger root against the microplane or grater. Hold one end of the ginger root and move it in a downward motion, applying slight pressure against the microplane and grater. Beware of cutting your fingers or knuckles. Grate the ginger slowly, and take care when grating the nubs, nooks, and crannies of the ginger.
5. 5. Scrape off the ginger pieces. After grating ginger, be sure to scrape off the ginger pieces on the back of the grater or microplane.
6. 6. Use your grated ginger. Add the grated ginger to stir-fries, ginger tea, or if any recipe calls for ginger.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, and more.