Ginger Garlic Paste Turns Green: 4 Reasons & 3 Fixes [Real Pictures]

If ginger garlic paste turns green then it is not actually ginger it is garlic in the paste that turned green (1) due to a chemical reaction. It is totally safe to eat ginger garlic paste which turned green. If it smells good then it is good to go. Kindly note that there is no significant scientific research on the topic. However, normally it is said to be normal and safe.

Why Does Ginger Paste Turn Green

Below are the main reasons why ginger garlic paste turns green.

1. There Might Be Excess Water Content In The Paste

Ginger paste is used in many dishes in India. To make a ginger paste on a large scale, please add a little water while grinding. However the excessive addition of water will spoil your paste, and garlic paste turns green. So, try to avoid the excessive use of water in the ginger paste.

2. You May Have Used A Rotten Piece Of Ginger Or Garlic In The Paste

It might be because you have used a rotten piece of garlic in the paste. That helps the bacteria to grow in the paste. So,

1.          Don’t use even a single rotten garlic or ginger piece.

2.          Throw it away

3. Opening The Paste Container Several Times

You may find yourself opening the paste container many times if you prepare various dishes in a day. But, it’s not a good job because it may affect the paste quality. When the container opens, moist air enters the container. Due to this air, the shelf life of the ginger garlic paste is drastically reduced.

4. No Proper Space For Storage

For a longer storage life of ginger garlic paste, you need a specified room temperature. But if you don’t provide the required temperature, then it’s likely to impact the storage life of the paste. If you want to use it within a day then keep it in the chiller of the freezer.

Ginger garlic paste is liable to turn green when blended because if we keep it for more than a week, it changes color. As garlic contains enzyme alliin that reacts with the metal to become acidic so, make sure to use fresh ginger garlic paste.

Although it is ok to use the green paste of ginger garlic because after turning green, there is no change in taste, but if we keep the paste for more than a month, there will be a chance of bad odor.

As we can store the ginger paste for a long time at a low temperature, which makes it less acidic, and due to this, some of the pigmented enzymes change the color to green. It is safe to eat, but if the taste has been changed, it is better to use the fresh ginger paste.

Preservatives TO Make Ginger Garlic Paste Without Turning Green

Three natural preservatives are used to preserve ginger garlic paste. Turmeric, Salt, and oil.

1- Use Oil

Water is the main reason for spoiling food. So the best way to avoid the usage of water in food is oil. 

Add oil to the ginger garlic paste to preserve it. Because oil helps in protecting the paste by turning green.

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2- Use Salt

As salt is considered to be a natural preservative. It helps preserve many food items like pickles, fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.

So, you can also use salt to preserve ginger garlic paste as it protects the paste from turning green. Do not add vinegar to ginger garlic paste. It will smell bad.

3- Use Turmeric

Turmeric has various advantages; it can be used as a preservative in food items. It can also be used to preserve ginger paste; it helps in protecting the paste from green coloration.

How to Make Ginger Garlic Paste?

Step 1. Peel ginger and garlic.

Step 2: Put some oil (depending on your need)

Step 3: Add some turmeric for extra nutrition

Step 4: Grind in a manual grinder

Step 5. Preserve in an air tight container,

FAQ’S

How To Keep The Ginger Garlic Paste Safe From Turning Green?

Ginger garlic paste, made from ground ginger and garlic, is often used to add a zesty flavor to dishes. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended that you add a bit of sugar to the ginger garlic paste to balance the flavors and stop the greening.

How To Prepare Ginger Garlic Paste If You Don’t Have a Blender?

1. Ginger garlic paste is easy to make.
2. You don’t have to peel the ginger before making the paste.
3. You don’t have to peel the garlic either.
4. You can use the same grater for both ingredients.
5. You can also chop the garlic and ginger together.
6. You can add herbs to the paste too.

Conclusion: Ginger Garlic Paste Turns Green

Try to use fresh ginger and garlic to make a paste. It will give you a better taste than stored ginger garlic paste.

Ginger garlic paste turns green due to not being stored properly. If you keep the paste at a low temperature in the freezer, it will last for a long time.

References:

https://www.academia.edu/download/38598939/mKcKnL1G-32-41.pdf

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-020-04620-1

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jf072075t

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13197-020-04620-1

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jsfa.4568