After falling head-over-heels for Trader Joe's Crushed Garlic Cubes, it was only natural that I gave their cousin-the Crushed Ginger Cubes-a spin. And let me tell you, this little yellow tray is doing big things in my kitchen. If you cook even occasionally with ginger, you know the struggle: peeling the knobby root, grating it without also grating off half your knuckles, and dealing with that sticky ginger juice that somehow ends up in your eyebrows.
These frozen cubes skip all that drama. They're perfectly portioned, easy to use, and packed with the kind of flavor that instantly brightens a dish. I use them in marinades, stir-fries, salad dressings, tea-you name it. And yes, just like the garlic cubes, I now panic if I'm down to my last three.
Taste and Texture
These cubes are made with crushed fresh ginger and a bit of water, and that's it. No preservatives. No weird flavor aftertaste. And the punch? Oh, it's there. One cube gives you that warm, slightly spicy ginger flavor that can wake up even the laziest of weekday dinners.
It's not quite as fibrous as freshly grated ginger, which is honestly a win for me. I don't need long strings of ginger root floating around in my soup. These melt into whatever you're cooking, adding flavor without texture issues.
I sometimes even sneak one into warm lemon water with honey when I feel like pretending I'm at a spa (while actually sitting in my pajamas next to a mountain of laundry).
Also worth noting: one cube = about one teaspoon of fresh ginger. Super easy to substitute when you're following a recipe.
Preparation (Heating)
Same as the garlic cubes-there is no prep. You literally just pop a cube into your pan, pot, or mug and let it do its thing. I toss it into the pan right after the garlic cube when I'm starting a stir-fry, or into a soup when I want some zip. You don't need to thaw it in advance. It melts fast, with no clumping or weird bits left behind.
Hot tip: If you like making your own salad dressings or sauces, melt one of these cubes in a bit of sesame oil or olive oil and whisk it with soy sauce, vinegar, and a touch of honey. Instant gingery goodness.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Saves so much prep time
- Packs serious flavor without bitterness
- Melts down super smooth
- Makes tea, soup, and stir-fries taste restaurant-level
- Each cube is the perfect teaspoon-size
Cons:
- If you're a "must use fresh everything" person, this might not feel fancy enough
- Only downside is when I run out and have to peel real ginger again
- Not ideal for recipes that need thin sliced ginger-these are fully crushed
Location in Store
Find them in the frozen herb and veggie section, right next to the Trader Joe's Crushed Garlic Cubes-which you should 1000% grab if you haven't already. They come in the same silicone tray, in a sunny yellow color so you can spot them quickly when you're digging through your freezer like an archaeologist looking for hidden treasures.
Similar Products
Aside from the garlic cubes (which are basically this product's soulmate), there's also frozen basil, parsley, and even turmeric if you want to stock your freezer like a spice cabinet. But for me, the garlic and ginger cubes are the only ones I consistently restock. They just work in everything and get used the fastest.
Final Verdict
If you've ever hesitated to cook with fresh ginger because it's messy, annoying, or too much effort for a weeknight, these cubes will completely change your mind. They're the shortcut you didn't know you needed-and once you start using them, you won't want to stop. I keep them stocked like toilet paper: always two backups, minimum.
Use them in your stir-fry. Your soup. Your homemade salad dressing. Your sleepy-time lemon tea. Use them just because they're there and make everything better.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5-if I could give these cubes a hug, I would)
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