This pale creamy yellow root is widely used, not just to season food but also for its medicinal properties (it helps digestion, expels intestinal gas, improves the appetite and is believed to be good for colds).
Always scrape the skin off fresh ginger before using and do not substitute powdered ginger as the taste is quite different.
Fresh ginger keeps in a cool place for several weeks.
Ginger is used in beef rendang for instance.