How long does fresh ginger stay fresh?!

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I agree with the other two - 4-5 months is a long time for even a root-type item to stay 'fresh'. Doesn't it look shriveled and dry? If so, start over. 'Safe' and 'good' are two different things! Next time, yes to the freezer or I like to crystallize my ginger. And it is good to eat just like that, or you can chop and put in cookies, etc. Anything sweet. Here's how I crystallize.....
Peel the ginger root(s) by scraping with a spoon. You lose a lot less of the tasty flesh that way. Then slice against the grain in thin pieces. Place the pieces in water (to cover) on the stove & simmer until much of the water is gone and the pieces have softened and changed color (a little dark). Add sugar - if you started with a cup of ginger, use a half cup of sugar, stir and keep simmering until the pan looks like a mess - like a glob of thick cornflakes.... with no water showing. Place the pieces on a cooling rack to cool and dry completely. They are yum! I put mine in a jar and put it in the freezer. You could probably just leave them in the cupboard, but I put everything in the freezer! I hope you try this next time you bring some ginger home. It is not difficult and costs much less than the packages of crystallized ginger you buy at the store.

I can't imagine it's still any good, but if it's not a wrinkled, dried-up mess, you can use it.

I store fresh gingeroot in the freezer. It can stay frozen for that long and easily grated on a rasp

I 2nd the freezer recommendation. In the refrigerator it will go bad in a few weeks. In the freezer several months.