China cold storage solution provider
Ginger, with its unique spicy aroma, is widely used as a culinary ingredient and for its health benefits. It can stimulate appetite, aid digestion, detoxify, and even help prevent motion sickness or relieve cold symptoms when made into ginger tea. However, ginger is notoriously difficult to store — it often shrivels, sprouts, or rots if kept at room temperature.
So, how can ginger be stored for long-term freshness?
The most reliable solution is ginger cold storage. Ginger thrives in warm, humid environments but is sensitive to both excessive heat and cold. A controlled cold storage facility provides the optimal environment to maintain its quality.
- Optimal storage temperature: around 15°C (59°F)
- Relative humidity: about 65%
- Storage duration: up to 200 days under proper conditions
⚠️ Note: During storage, issues such as peeling skin, shriveling, softening, discoloration, or sprouting can reduce quality. Careful monitoring is required to minimize losses.
Recommended Ginger Storage Process
- Harvesting: Select mature ginger grown in sandy soil with smooth skin. Harvest before frost. Remove excess soil but avoid washing or storing ginger when overly wet. Slightly dry if necessary.
- Packaging: Place harvested ginger into breathable bags. Avoid oversized packaging to reduce compression damage.
- Pre-cooling: Before storage, pre-cool ginger at around 17°C (62°F) in a pre-cooling room to stabilize temperature and reduce respiration.
- Cold Storage: Transfer pre-cooled ginger into the cold storage chamber at the recommended 15°C, 65% RH for long-term preservation.
Maintenance & Monitoring Tips
Even after proper storage, ginger requires regular checks:
- Monitor temperature and humidity to ensure a stable environment.
- Inspect ginger quality for signs of sprouting, softening, or mold.
- Smell for abnormal odors that could indicate rot or fungal growth.
By combining correct storage methods with regular monitoring, ginger can stay fresh and marketable until the next harvest season, significantly reducing post-harvest losses.