Ground ginger is an essential ingredient in recipes like gingerbread and pumpkin pie. While fresh ginger can be used, it doesn't deliver a lot of spice and flavor. Moreover, fresh ginger also has a concise shelf life and dries out quickly. Meaning it isn't always easy to come by. It can also go bad fast if you aren't using it regularly. Also, you might not want to consider fresh ginger as your best substitute for ground ginger because of its many disadvantages. It will still deliver zingy flavors without all the hassle!