| How to Choose the Perfect Light Bulb for Your Lighting Fixture Posted: 04 Aug 2020 05:00 PM PDT There are so many different types of light bulbs available that it's easy to get confused about which one to choose. Rather than buying the first bulb that looks like it will fit in a fixture, take the time to find the perfect bulb for your room. You'll ultimately save money in the long run, end up with the most attractive lighting for your home, and prevent a possible mishap by using a bulb with the wrong wattage or voltage for your fixture. [Edit]Determining Wattage, Voltage, and Base Size - Take the old bulb out of the fixture to find the type of base you need to buy. If you already have a bulb in the fixture, remove it to inspect the threading, size, and shape. You can use this as a reference or take it into the store with you when you go to buy your new bulb.[1]
- Even if a bulb fits in the fixture, you still need to double-check the voltage and wattage for each bulb and fixture to make sure they line up. Don't assume that just because a bulb fits that it's safe to use.
- Measure or use a coin to assess the diameter of the fixture's base if you don't have a bulb. Since light fixtures typically come in three different sizes, you can use a coin to determine what type of bulb you need. Grab a quarter, dime, and a penny. Hold each coin over the opening for the bulb on a light fixture to determine the size of the bulb you need. You can always measure the opening if you prefer.[2]
- Standard bulbs (also known as medium or Edison base bulbs) go into bases that resemble the size of a quarter. These are the most popular type of fixture base and they're 26 mm in diameter.
- Intermediate bulbs are roughly the shape of a dime. These bases measure 17 mm in diameter.
- Candelabra bulbs have bases that are roughly the same size as Lincoln's head on a penny. These small bases measure 12 mm in diameter.
- If your fixture looks like two pins slide into it, you have a bi-pin, twist-lock, or plug bulb. There are hundreds of these bulbs and you'll need to read the instructions for the light fixture to figure out which bulb you need. For example, a G9.5 bi-pin can have a pin diameter of , while a G12 bulb will have a diameter of . Both bulbs will look nearly identical and they come in a variety of voltages, so you'll have to read the instructions for the light fixture to ensure that you're using the right bulb.
- Find the fixture's maximum wattage or use the old bulb's wattage as a guide. Read the instruction manual for your fixture or look on the back of the fixture for a sticker listing the maximum wattage. If you had a bulb in the fixture that worked fine, you can assume the maximum wattage on the bulb is identical to the maximum wattage of the fixture.[3]
- Never use a lightbulb with a wattage higher than the fixture's max wattage. This will eventually destroy the fixture, but it can even cause a fire if you leave the light on for too long.
- This information is often printed on the inside of the base for the bulb on the fixture.
- You can absolutely use a bulb with a lower wattage than the fixture's max wattage.
- Check the voltage to see if it's 12, 24, or 120 volts. Next to the maximum wattage information, look for a voltage. In the vast majority of cases, indoor lighting fixtures require 120-volt bulbs. Outdoor fixtures often require 12- or 24-volt bulbs, although smaller indoor lights may require these lower voltages as well. Purchase a bulb for your fixture that's designed for the voltage of your fixture.[4]
- You will destroy the bulb or the fixture if you use a bulb with the wrong voltage.
- In most cases, a bulb with an incorrect voltage won't even turn on. If you got a new bulb and it won't light up in your fixture, the voltage is probably incorrect.
- Convert the wattage if you're going from one type of light to another. Fixture wattages are typically based on incandescent light, which is mostly being phased out over time for energy reasons. If you are switching from one type of light to another, find the conversion by reading a light bulb's packaging to make sure you aren't exceeding the max wattage. This information is typically listed on the box of a bulb, but you may need to look the conversion up online if you can't find it.[5]
- For example, a 60-watt fixture requires an LED bulb that's 8-12 watts, and if you're going with a halogen bulb, it must be 43 watts. This is due to the fact that different types of bulbs produce different amounts of energy.
- This conversion measurement is often listed on a bulb's box as the wattage "equivalent." If you need a 60-watt incandescent bulb, you can use any light bulb that says "60-watt equivalent" on the box.
[Edit]Selecting a Bulb Type - Opt for an LED bulb for a standard, energy-efficient option. LED bulbs are popular and easy to find. They also last longer than other types of bulb and a single lightbulb may work for 10-20 years. They come in a variety of colors and bulb shapes, which makes them a great option if you aren't sure what type of light you prefer.[6]
- Some people dislike LED bulbs because they tend to be a little brighter and sharper than the old incandescent bulbs people are used to.
- LED bulbs tend to be the most expensive but they last for so long that it's often worth it in the long run.
- You find LED bulbs in almost every type of lighting fixture. They're so efficient and popular that you can find them in almost every style.
- Pick a CFL bulb if you want an efficient, whiter light. CFL is short for compact fluorescent. These bulbs use 20-40% less energy to produce the same light as incandescent bulbs. They are often color adjusted to produce light close to real sunlight. While they don't last quite as long as LED bulbs, they're still a relatively good option if you want a natural-looking light.[7]
- CFLs generate a little more heat than LED bulbs which is why they're generally not as popular. They tend to get very hot if you leave them on for a long time.
- Compact fluorescent light bulbs are commonly used in desk lamps, floor lamps, under-cabinet lamps, table lamps, linear strips, and sconces.
- CFLs have basically made fluorescent tube lighting entirely obsolete. If you really like the look of those old fluorescent tubes, get a CFL bulb. The feel of the light tends to be extremely similar.[8]
- Opt for halogen lights if you really dislike orange and yellow light. Halogen bulbs produce bright, vivid light. The main difference between halogen and other bulbs is that halogen light tends to feel blue. Halogen bulbs tend to burn out very quickly, but they're a great choice if you really prefer sharper, bluer light.[9]
- Halogen bulbs are popular options for track lighting, appliance lighting, and desk lamps. They aren't usually great choices for overhead fixtures, though.
- Avoid incandescent bulbs if you can since they don't last as long. Incandescent lighting is what many people grew up with, but it's wildly inefficient compared to the other options. It requires a lot of energy and it's not great for the environment. On top of that, most countries have banned the manufacture of incandescent bulbs. It's best to choose another option if you can.[10]
- If you really love the look of incandescent lighting, look for a "warm" LED with roughly 800 lumens. The texture of the light should look nearly identical.[11]
- Get a 3-way bulb if you have a 3-way lamp that clicks. If you have a lamp with one of those switches that clicks as you turn it, you have a 3-way lamp. Purchase a 3-way bulb for your lamp. These lamps and bulbs have 3 different wattages and light outputs: low, medium, and high. When you turn the switch so that it clicks once, you'll turn on the low-light setting. Turn it twice for the medium setting, and three times for the high setting.[12]
- Many 3-way bulbs are incandescent, but there are 3-way LED and halogen bulbs as well.
- These bulbs are almost exclusively used in freestanding and table lamps. You won't often find them on a wall fixture or ceiling light.
- Read the label on a non-incandescent light bulb to see if it's dimmable. Every incandescent light is dimmable, but only some LED, halogen, and CFL bulbs can be dimmed. On the bulbs that can be dimmed, it will say "dimmable" on the front of the packaging. Inspect the label carefully if you're buying a non-incandescent bulb and you have a ceiling light or fixture with a dimmable switch.[13]
- Dimmable light bulbs have adjustable voltages. When you turn a dimmer down, the voltage is throttled and less light is produced.
[Edit]Picking the Brightness and Shape - Choose a bulb with more lumens for a brighter light. Lumens refers to the brightness of the light the bulb will put out (as opposed to wattage, which is the amount of energy). The higher the lumens, the brighter the light bulb will be. Read the package on the bulb to see how many lumens it produces. This is entirely a matter of personal preference, but you usually want more lumens for bright overhead lights and floor lamps, while desk lamps and track lighting usually require fewer lumens.[14]
- The scale for lumens ranges roughly from 450-1600. A bulb with 800 lumens will produce an "average" amount of light. Again, how 800 lumens looks in your home depends on what you're using the light for. A desk lamp producing 800 lumens will be really bright. An outdoor motion-sensor light will feel really dim at 800 lumens.
- Pick a warmer color temperature for a yellowish light color. Most bulbs will advertise color temperature or light appearance on the package. This will give you a sense for the color and texture of the light. Although this may not be a serious consideration for you when choosing your bulbs, you might want to make sure you don't accidentally purchase a bright white bulb when you intended to buy a warm yellow bulb.[15]
- The softer the light is, the less harsh it will be when you look at it. Generally, softer lights are great for mood lighting and exposed bulbs. Harder lights are great for ceiling fans and lights that need to be bright. Harder lighting is often marketed as "bright" or "ultra-bright."
- Warmer lights tend to have tints of yellow, orange, or red, while cooler lights tend to have a bluish tint. It's entirely up to you which you prefer.
- Buy an Energy Star Certified bulb if you can to save money over time. If you look on the packaging for the light bulb, it lists the estimated yearly energy cost and the lifespan of the bulb. If these numbers are lower than standard light bulbs and produce less heat, the bulb may have "Energy Star Certified" printed on the label. Buy these bulbs if you can—they're much more efficient, cheaper to operate, and they're good for the environment.[16]
- Energy Star is the name of the certification program in the United States, but most countries have a version of this.
- Choose a globe or tube bulb if you have a round or long fixture. Globe bulbs are perfectly round and emit an equal amount of light in every direction. These bulbs are great for round fixtures that are covered in glass since they will illuminate the entire cover in an even shade of light. There are also tube-style bulbs that are longer and designed for thinner, hanging lights and fixtures with vertical sconces.[17]
- Tube-style bulbs come in a variety of sizes, so measure the length of a hanging fixture before purchasing a bulb to avoid getting a light that's too short or long.
- Get a recessed bulb for track lighting or directional lights. Unlike round bulbs, recessed bulbs have a flat surface that directs light downwards. If your light fixture is built into the wall or your want to focus the light in a direction, get recessed bulbs. These bulbs come in all types of lights and styles.[18]
- If you put a regular bulb in a track or directional light, you'll be wasting light on the sides of the bulb.
- Opt for a candle bulb if you want fancy, decorative lights. Candle bulbs are a general term for the tube-shaped bulbs that often end in a point to resemble the flame from a candle. There isn't much of a point to using them if you're covering the bulb with a shade or cover, but they're a cool option if the bulb is going to be exposed. This makes them a great choice for un-covered lamps, chandeliers, wall sconces, and modern lighting fixtures.[19]
- These types of decorative lights come in a few different styles. There are pear-shaped, blunt-tip, and tapered candle bulbs for different fixtures and looks.
- These bulbs tend to look softer than their round counterparts, even when the wattage is identical.
- Look for PAR bulbs if you're setting up outdoor lighting. PAR stands for parabolic aluminized reflector. A PAR lamp can be incandescent, halogen, or LED. PAR lamps rely on an internal reflector and a prism in the lens for a controlled, focused light beam. These bulbs are extremely bright, so they're great if you're setting up a motion-sensor light.[20]
- PAR bulbs are not a great option for indoor lighting. They'll feel really overwhelming, even at a low wattage.
- There are other types of bulbs, like xenon, but they aren't used in lighting fixtures.
- There is basically no reason to buy a fluorescent bulb. They contain toxic materials and they're less efficient than CLF bulbs, which basically look the same.[21]
- You'll see letters printed on bulbs to indicate the size of the bulb and the shape of the base. Unfortunately, these letters can be kind of confusing and arbitrary, especially since many of the codes for the base and bulb use the same letters and numbers. You're better off just measuring the base.
[Edit]Warnings - Never use a bulb that doesn't match the wattage of the fixture. If you use a bulb with a wattage higher than the max wattage of the fixture, it may catch fire. Always keep the wattage of the bulb at or under the maximum wattage of the fixture.[22]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Keep Aphids Away Using Eco Friendly Methods Posted: 04 Aug 2020 09:00 AM PDT Aphids, also known as tree lice, are tiny little insects that can wreak havoc on your plants. If left unchecked, they can destroy entire gardens. Although insecticides will effectively kill aphids, they may damage your plants, and they're not great for the environment. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can try to eliminate your aphid problem that are natural and eco-friendly. [Edit]Removing Aphids Manually - Look for the cottony threads and residue of aphid damage on your plants. Look on the underside of leaves, around new growth, and anywhere else on your plants for the classic cotton-looking threads and residue of aphid damage. Check around for large groups of the small insects, which are often green, but can be different colors, depending on the species.[1]
- Usually, the aphids aren't too far away from where they've just eaten, so finding the damage is an easy way to look for them.
- There are often more than 1 group of aphids, so examine all of your plants to try to spot them.
- Squish the aphids with your fingers to remove them. If you've spotted a group of aphids, put on a pair of rubber gloves and use your fingers to squeeze them to kill them. Try to catch as many as you can if they try to run as well. Look for the small insects and pick them off by hand to remove them without having to use any chemicals or products.[2]
- If you have a small number of aphid groups, manually removing them a few times a week may be enough to control the problem and keep them from damaging your plants.
- Spray the aphids with a garden hose to blast them off your plants. Focus a jet stream of water from your garden hose directly onto a group of aphids. Be careful not to damage your plants as you blast the bugs off of them. Check your plants for aphids every 2-3 days and spray them off to control their population.[3]
- Eventually, the aphids may move on to another area and leave your plants alone.
- Sprinkle flour over the aphids with a sifter to knock them off. Add some standard all-purpose flour into a sifter or sieve. Locate a group of aphids and cover them with the fine powder to coat them and cause them to slip off of your plants. The flour will wash or fall of your plants within a few days.[4]
- Don't worry, the flour won't damage your plants.
[Edit]Making an Eco-Friendly Aphid Spray - Mix of dish soap with of warm water. Fill a medium-sized bucket with warm water and add in a mild liquid dish soap. Stir the mixture well so it's fully combined and it's nice and soapy.[5]
- Use warm water so the soap combines with it more effectively.
- Use neem oil or essential oils for a natural aphid spray. Add 4-5 drops of an essential oil such as peppermint, clove, rosemary, and thyme to about of water for a natural alternative that will keep aphids out of your garden. Neem oil is also an effective repellent. Dilute the neem oil with the amount of water recommended on the packaging.[6]
- You can find neem oil at your local hardware or home improvement store. You can also order it online.
- Fill a hand sprayer with the solution. Use a pump hand sprayer and carefully pour the soapy water, neem oil, or diluted essential oil into the container. If you can't fit all of the solution into the bottle, keep it set aside so you can refill it if you need more. Close the lid tightly on the sprayer so the liquid won't leak out.[7]
- A hand sprayer will make it easier for you to coat the underside of the leaves and spray a wider swath of plants.
- You can find hand sprayers at your local hardware and home improvement stores. You can also order them online.
- Spray down the leaves, stems, and buds of the plant. Spray the solution all over your plants to get rid of the aphids. Focus on areas where the aphids like to congregate such as the new growth, and especially on the underside of the leaves. Even if you can't see aphids, spray down all of your plants to keep them from spreading.[8]
- The soapy solution serves as a mild insecticide that will effectively kill the aphids quickly, without harming your plants.
- Neem oil and essential oils will linger on the plants and keep the aphids from coming back.
- Apply the solution every 2-3 days until you don't see any more aphids. Take your sprayer out and coat your plants every couple of days. Periodically examine your plants and look for aphids. After a few weeks of regularly applying the solution, all of the aphids will be gone.[9]
- Depending on how serious your infestation is, it could take as little as 1 or 2 applications to eliminate your aphid problem.
[Edit]Using Natural Deterrents - Grow nasturtiums near your plants to draw the aphids away. Nasturtiums are easy-to-grow annuals with bright yellow, orange, and red flowers, and aphids absolutely love them. Use nasturtiums as a decoy plant that will attract any aphids to them by planting them in your garden near the plants you want to keep the aphids away from. When the aphids congregate on the nasturtiums, use an aphid spray or manually remove them to get rid of them.[10]
- Choose mature nasturtiums from your local nursery to plant them and have them start attracting aphids right away.
- Plant natural deterrents like garlic and petunias in your garden. Aphids hate some plants, and adding them to your garden near the plants you want to be aphid-free is a great way to deter them. Choose companion plants that aphids dislike and use them as a natural and eco-friendly way to keep aphids away.[11]
- Garlic and petunias also have beautiful flowers so they're great to plant near roses or other flowering plants that aphids like to eat.
- Other plants that deter aphids include mint, green onion, and chives.
- Bury a banana peel in the soil at the base of your plants. Banana peels are a great natural deterrent to aphids. Dig a shallow hole about deep near the base of your plants and add a small section of banana peel about long. Lightly cover the peel with dirt so it's still exposed.[12]
- The banana peel will keep the aphids from returning to your plants and will decompose to add nutrients to the soil!
- If you don't have banana peels, use orange peels instead.
- Introduce ladybugs into your garden to eat the aphids. Ladybugs, also known as ladybirds, love to feast on aphids, so adding them to your garden is an effective way to eliminate your aphid infestation. Visit a local nursery or look online for ladybugs that you can purchase and release into your garden.[13]
- Don't release ladybugs anywhere you've sprayed pesticide or they may die as well.
- Nasturtium spray also works well against aphids. Simply boil of nasturtium leaves in of water for 15 minutes. Strain out the leaves and wait until the water is cool to add it to a spray bottle to spray down your plants.
- Check your plants regularly for aphids to keep them from establishing a major infestation.
[Edit]Warnings - If you bury banana or orange peels, you may attract some animals such as raccoons or rabbits, who may try to dig them up and eat them.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References |
| How to Store Cut Ginger Posted: 04 Aug 2020 01:00 AM PDT Ginger is an essential ingredient in many different Asian and Thai recipes, including soups, curries, and marinades; it's also often used to make delicious baked goods, like ginger cake! If you buy it fresh but don't cook with it frequently, you might find that it shrivels and goes bad before you've had a chance to use it all. Thankfully, there are several different ways you can store cut ginger so that you can always have it on hand to add to your favorite dishes. [Edit]Keeping Ginger in the Fridge - Blot the cut ends of the ginger to remove extra moisture. If you have a knob of ginger that you plan to use within the next few weeks, you can absolutely keep it in the fridge. Just use a paper towel to blot any cut, open ends so that there is less chance of mold developing.[1]
- Excess moisture can start to seep into the skin of the ginger, causing it to age faster than it should. It can also create a somewhat slimy layer, so you want to avoid this if at all possible.
- Place the ginger into a resealable plastic bag. As you seal the plastic bag, push the excess air out so that the bag is as tight against the ginger as possible. Label the plastic bag with the "date purchased" so that you can easily remember how long it'll be good for.[2]
- Tuck the sealed bag into the crisper drawer in your fridge. Put the bag into the crisper drawer and take it out when you need it. Because ginger tends to be a bit smaller than other veggies you might have in the crisper, try to set it on top of anything else in there. That way, it won't fall to the side and be forgotten.[3]
- Use fresh ginger within 4-6 weeks for the freshest taste. Always visually check your ginger before using it to make sure it's still in good condition. If you're nearing the end of the 4-6 weeks or have noticed that the ginger is starting to wrinkle or age, you can transfer it to the freezer.[4]
- If the ginger looks discolored, becomes soft to the touch, or emits a weird smell, it has probably gone bad and shouldn't be consumed.
[Edit]Grating and Freezing Fresh Ginger - Peel and then grate or finely mince the ginger. Use a vegetable peeler to remove as much of the skin from the ginger as possible, and then scrape away any remaining bits with a spoon. Use a grater or slice and chop the ginger into tiny bits with a knife.[5]
- To mince the ginger, cut off a slice and cut that into long sticks. Then, cut across the sticks to break the ginger down into even smaller pieces.
- Drop small spoonfuls of the grated ginger onto a lined baking sheet. Get a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper. Place small, rounded mounds of ginger on the sheet, leaving about of space between each one.[6]
- If you'd prefer, you could also puree the ginger with a little bit of water and freeze it flat in a resealable plastic bag. When you need some for a recipe, simply break off a small piece from the bag and it'll melt right into the dish.[7]
- Freeze the ginger for 3-4 hours on the baking sheet. Lay the baking sheet flat in the freezer so that the ginger doesn't slide and freeze into one big chunk. It should only take a few hours until ginger is completely frozen through.[8]
- Freezing the ginger in small, individual portions makes it much easier to take out a piece to use whenever you need.
- Transfer the ginger from the baking sheet to an airtight container. Using either your hands or a spatula, gently remove the ginger from the baking sheet and place it into a resealable plastic bag or a lidded freezer-safe container. Once everything has been moved, place the container back into the freezer for long-term storage.[9]
- The parchment paper should make it really easy to remove the ginger from the baking sheet.
- Mark the container and use frozen ginger within 6 months for the best flavor. Use a piece of masking tape and a marker to record the "frozen on" date. After 6 months, the ginger should still be good, but it may not be as aromatic and flavorful.[10]
- If your freezer loses power and the ginger thaws, it's safest to throw it out. Otherwise, you risk it growing bacteria and becoming unsafe to consume.
- Take out a portion of frozen ginger whenever you need it for a recipe. Whether you're making soup or stir-fry or a ginger cake, all you have to do is take out as many frozen pieces of ginger as you need. For dishes cooked on the stovetop, you can add it straight to the pan—the heat will thaw the ginger quickly. For baked goods, place the ginger in a small bowl on the counter and let it come to room temperature before using it.[11]
- Since fresh ginger can quickly go bad and shrivel, preparing and storing it this way ensures you'll always have some available when you need it.
[Edit]Pickling Sliced Ginger - Peel the ginger and cut it into thin slices. Use a vegetable peeler to remove as much of the skin as possible, then use a small spoon to gently scrape away any skin remaining in the crevices and grooves. Use a knife or mandoline to slice the ginger into thin discs.[12]
- You could pickle larger chunks of ginger and then cut them to the right size when you want to use them.
- Sprinkle salt over the ginger and let it sit for about 30 minutes. Use about 1 teaspoon (6 grams) of salt for an entire piece of ginger root. The salt kickstarts the pickling process and will soak into the ginger while it's resting.[13]
- White table salt works just fine for this. You could also use sea salt, pink Himalayan salt, or another variety.
- You can leave the ginger on the cutting board or place it in a bowl.
- Boil of rice vinegar and 5 tbsp (62 grams) of sugar. Measure the rice vinegar and sugar into a small saucepan and set it over medium-high heat. Let it come to a boil so that all the sugar dissolves, and then remove it from the heat.[14]
- If you prefer a slightly sweeter pickled ginger, add another 1-2 tbsp (12-25 grams) of sugar to the rice vinegar.
- Put the ginger into a glass jar and pour the rice vinegar on top. If the ginger isn't completely covered by the liquid, boil another cup of rice vinegar and sugar. Be careful when pouring in the rice vinegar as it'll still be really hot. Avoid touching the glass jar with your bare hands.[15]
- If you want to give pickled ginger as gifts, divide the ginger and pickling liquid between several small glass jars.
- Let the liquid cool to room temperature, then screw the jar's lid on tightly. Once the liquid has cooled down and the jar is no longer hot to the touch, put the lid tightly onto the jar. Label the jar with the "date made."[16]
- Don't put the lid onto the container until it has cooled to room temp; otherwise, it could build up too much pressure and burst.
- Put the jar in the fridge and let it ferment for at least 1 week. After about a week, the ginger should turn pink; once it's pink, it's pickled and ready to use! Fish out a few slices to add to meals or to enjoy as a quick treat.[17]
- Pickled ginger is often served with sushi, but you can use it with other dishes. Try using it as a salad topping or chopping it up and using it in a marinade.
- Keep the pickled ginger in the fridge and enjoy it within 4-6 weeks. Remember to keep the lid tightly secured on the container for maximum freshness. The ginger will probably still be safe to consume after the 4-6 weeks have passed, but the texture and taste might not be as good.[18]
- If you notice any discoloration, strange smells, or mold, discard the ginger right away.
[Edit]Drying and Grinding Ginger - Preheat your oven to the lowest heat setting possible. Ideally, the temperature will be at or lower than . If your oven doesn't go that low, just plan on leaving the door cracked during the drying process.[19]
- You could also use a food dehydrator—just follow the instructions to properly dry the ginger.
- As an alternative, you could also simply leave sliced ginger in the sun for a few days. Drying it in the oven will get the job done faster, though.
- Arrange peeled, sliced ginger evenly on a baking sheet. For the best results use pieces of ginger that are no thicker than . The thinner the slices, the quicker they will dry! Arrange the pieces so they're in a single layer with a little bit of space between each one. This will allow the air to move more evenly around each piece.[20]
- You can use a knife to slice the ginger, or, for super thin pieces, try a mandoline.
- Bake the ginger for 1 hour at a time, flipping the slices every hour. How long it takes to dry the ginger depends on several factors, like how thick the slices are and the temperature of the oven. In general, it shouldn't take more than 3-4 hours for them to dry. Checking them frequently and flipping them regularly ensures that they won't burn.[21]
- If you have a lot of ginger, you could always bake 2 sheets at the same time.
- Remove the sheet from the oven once the ginger easily breaks apart. Test the ginger to see if it has fully dried by carefully picking it up and snapping it in half. It if bends but doesn't break, it needs to bake for longer. If it snaps in half, it should be good![22]
- You could also try chewing a piece to test it. If it's still moist or chewy inside, it's probably not done. It should be brittle and dry.
- Be careful when picking up the ginger from the baking sheet. It'll be hot, so you may want to use a pair of tongs to remove it and set it to the side to let it cool down for a few seconds.
- Store the ginger in an airtight container in a cupboard or pantry. Transfer the ginger from the sheet to a clean glass or plastic container. Screw the lid on tightly, and then place the container in a cool, dark place.[23]
- Dried ginger can last for years. It may not taste as potent or release as much flavor after a year, but it should still be safe to use. If it ever becomes moldy, smelly, or damp, throw it out.
- You can use dried ginger to make tea, or you can grind it up to use in various recipes.
- Grind dried ginger in a coffee or spice grinder to make ground ginger. You can grind it all at once and store it in an airtight container, or just grind enough for the meal you're making. Make sure the coffee or spice grinder is clean and dry before you use it so the ginger doesn't get contaminated with other spices.[24]
- A 1/4 cup of dehydrated ginger will make about 1 tablespoon (5.4 grams) of ground ginger.
- Ground ginger will be most potent for about a month. After that, it may start to lose its aroma and flavor.
- When buying ginger, look for firm, plump pieces. Avoid buying ginger with wrinkled skin or lots of dark spots.[25]
- Try preserving cut and peeled ginger in vodka, sherry, or sake. Use the ginger however you'd like, and add some of the liquid to cocktails to make a fun, ginger-infused drink.[26]
[Edit]Warnings - Use caution when handling hot objects, like hot jars or baking sheets. Wear oven mitts to protect your hands.
- Don't eat ginger if it smells funny or is discolored.[27]
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Keeping Ginger in the Fridge - Paper towels
- Resealable plastic bag
[Edit]Grating and Freezing Fresh Ginger - Vegetable peeler
- Spoon
- Knife or grater
- Parchment paper
- Baking sheet
- Airtight container
[Edit]Pickling Sliced Ginger - Vegetable peeler
- Spoon
- Knife or mandoline
- Lidded glass jar
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Small saucepan
[Edit]Drying and Grinding Ginger - Knife or mandoline
- Baking sheet
- Oven mitt
- Tongs (optional)
- Airtight container
- Coffee or spice grinder
[Edit]References |
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