If the recipe calls for ginger paste or garlic paste, you need to freshly grate them or mince them. This will take some time for the preparation. So always keep ginger paste and garlic paste ready in the fridge. This way you will save some time in the kitchen. If you are regular reader of my site. You probably know that I always use ginger paste and garlic paste separately. Just because some recipe calls for only ginger or only garlic. While some calls for more ginger and less garlic or vice versa. That is the reason I usually make ginger paste and garlic paste separately instead of making ginger-garlic paste combined.
How to make ginger-garlic paste?
I do not prefer to make combined paste. But many of you asking for it, so I am mentioning here. Use the same amount of ginger and garlic (meaning 1:1 ratio). Procedure will be same, grind into the paste without any water. At the end add oil and store in container.
Shelf life of ginger garlic paste:
It stays good for 2 months in the refrigerator if you have followed all the tips (mentioned below to keep it fresh). It stays good for many months in the freezer.
How to keep ginger garlic paste fresh for a long time?
Store them in airtight container in the refrigerator. Always use clean and dry container for storing. Do not add any water while grinding. Also make sure that you wipe it dry completely after washing ginger or garlic. Always use clean, dry spoon to get the needed amount. When needed for the recipe, remove the jar from the fridge, take out required amount using clean spoon. Close the jar and put it back in the fridge immediately. Do not let the jar sit at room temperature while you are cooking the dish.
Why ginger garlic paste stays fresh for longer period of time?
The reason behind it is addition of oil in it. Oil acts as a preservative just like it does in pickles (aachar). Also no water is added for making paste so it stays fresh for longer period of time. There are few other options to use as a preservative instead of oil. You can use salt or turmeric powder. I do not prefer salt because I like to control the salt in my dishes. Many times I forget that paste already has salt in it and it messes the entire dish. Turmeric powder added pastes are only good for Indian cooking. Because turmeric stains the entire dish yellow in color.
My garlic paste turns green. Is it still good to eat?
Yes totally safe. If the garlic paste turns green in color and still has good garlicky smell then it is completely edible. But here we using good amount of oil while making paste which makes it super white. And stored in fridge well, it will not turn green. If used water for grinding, then there are good chances that it will turn green after few days. Check out other kitchen basics Homemade paneer How to make Yogurt Homemade Garam masala powder Homemade khoya (for indian sweets)
