Why Recipes Measure Ginger in Thumbs and Centimetres, Not Weight

Recipes often call for a 'thumb' or centimetres of fresh ginger, but why not grams? Guardian food writers Felicity Cloake and Georgina Hayden explain that precision isn't crucial for ginger in dishes like curries and dals. 'It feels a bit fussy to give a precise weight for staples like ginger and onions,' says Cloake, adding that exact grams might make cooks worry unnecessarily. Hayden agrees, noting that unlike baking or risotto ratios, ginger quantity is flexible and cooking should be instinctive. However, Cloake acknowledges ginger's variable shape and suggests that moving to grams could be more accurate. For cooks, the takeaway is to trust your taste—a little more or less ginger won't ruin the dish.