If you’ve ever made gingersnap cookies, gingerbread, or pumpkin pie, you’ve probably used ground ginger. Taste: Pungent Most Popular Use: Baked goods, spice rubs, meat Ground ginger, sometimes labeled powdered ginger, is made by simply drying out peeled fresh ginger root, then grinding it to a fine powder. It is pale yellow in color and should have a pungent, spicy smell to indicate freshness.