Cabbage: Using & Storing (2024)

Are you new to cabbage? Learn more about it here, or keep reading to find out what we suggest you do to make the most of the harvest.

Using Cabbage

Cabbage is an incredibly versatile vegetable. In many regions of the world, cabbage is featured in a number of delicious, healthy and hearty dishes. Here are some tips for how to use cabbage.

  • Cut cabbages first into quarters and then diagonally across the wedge. Then, cut into thin slices for tossing raw into salads or cut a little thicker for steaming or boiling.
  • Eat cabbage raw or just lightly cooked. Overcooked cabbage may produce a strong odor and flavor.
  • Steam wedges of cabbage for 5-7 minutes. Top with butter and a pinch of salt and pepper or even with grated cheese.
  • Purple cabbage is beautiful, decorative and tasty: add it to salads, pasta salads, fried rice, etc.
  • Cabbage is wonderful added to sautes and stir frys. It tastes great alongside peppers, onions, etc.
  • You can boil cabbage for five minutes with a chopped onion and add to mashed potatoes.
  • Cabbage leaves can be stuffed with any number of yummy ingredients and then baked to perfection.
  • Large cabbage leaves can replace a tortilla for light and summery wrap sandwiches.
  • Cabbage is well known in coleslaw. Chop finely or shred and then toss with shredded carrots and green onions. Add any other vegetables that you would like. Toss with a yogurt/mayonnaise dill dressing or a vinaigrette.

We suggest trying this unique recipe for a Hot and Sour Salad. Or keep it simple with a summer coleslaw.

Storing Cabbage

In many cold regions of the world, cabbage is well-loved precisely because it stores so well. In the depths of winter, when snow covers our gardens, it is a great thing to look to the cabbage in our fridges to provide some local, fresh green taste! Proper storage slows down the process of respiration of a cabbage. The faster the cabbage respires, the more quickly it breaks down and begins to spoil. Follow the tips below to successfully store your cabbage for winter consumption.

  • If you are harvesting your own cabbage from your garden or if you buy cabbage from the farmstand, make sure to leave all leaves on the head. The outer leaves of the cabbage head work to protect the inner and more tender leaves, especially helping with moisture retention.
  • Do not wash cabbage until you are ready to use it. Refrain from washing before storing.
  • Cabbage can store well in a hydrator drawer. You can put the cabbage in a plastic bag to help retain moisture but it isn’t totally necessary.
  • Handle your cabbage with care. If you use only a partial head, make sure to tightly wrap the remainder and put into the fridge. Try to minimize any bruising of your cabbages. Any kind of cell damage makes the cabbage go by more quickly and degrades the vitamin C content.
  • If cabbage is properly stored, it can last from 3 weeks to up to 2 months in your refrigerator. In optimum root cellar conditions, it can even last longer.

Enjoy cabbage, in every season!!

Source: “From Asparagus to Zucchini” by Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition, CCF staff

Storage Tips Cooking Tips Kitchen Skills cabbage quick & easy soup storage

Cabbage: Using & Storing (2024)

FAQs

How do you store cabbage storage? ›

Cabbage can store well in a hydrator drawer. You can put the cabbage in a plastic bag to help retain moisture but it isn't totally necessary. Handle your cabbage with care. If you use only a partial head, make sure to tightly wrap the remainder and put into the fridge.

Can cabbage be stored in cold storage? ›

Optimum Storage Conditions Cabbage should be stored at 0 °C (32 °F) with 98 to 100%RH. Storage at -1 °C (31 °F) may cause freezing, while storage at 1 °C (34°F) may promote senescence-related storage losses, especially if held in long-term storage.

How long can you store a cabbage? ›

Whether it's red or green, Savoy or napa, fresh cabbage should be stored in the refrigerator in a plastic bag like these zip-top ones from Hefty (buy it: Target, $7). For red, green and Savoy cabbage heads, this storage method will keep the cabbage fresh for up to 10 days.

How do you pick and store cabbage? ›

Store whole heads of cabbage in a plastic bag in the crisper of your fridge for about a month. Sometimes a green or red cabbage will last as long as 6 weeks. Green and red cabbages stay the longest. Savoy cabbages are a little less durable, but they still stay fresh for a few weeks.

What is the best cabbage for storage? ›

4 cabbage plants are one of long-term storage cabbages as are Ruby Perfection, Kaitlin, and Murdoc varieties.

How do you store cabbage without a refrigerator? ›

It takes nothing special to store cabbage without refrigeration. Just stick the head somewhere that it won't get too bumped around. Some people recommend wrapping it in newspaper; I've never even done that. And it does really well without being refrigerated.

What is the best temperature to store cabbage? ›

Optimum Temperature

Most cabbage is room cooled. Storage at 0°C (32°F) is required to optimize cabbage storage life. Early crop round cabbage can be stored 3-6 weeks, while late crop cultivars can be stored for up to 6 months. For the latter, storage at -0.5°C (31°F) is sometimes recommended.

How do you store cabbage in the freezer? ›

How to freeze whole cabbage.
  1. Soak the cabbage in a gallon of water and 1 cup of salt. ...
  2. Drain the cabbage fully and place it on a dish or tray lined with parchment paper.
  3. Place the tray into the freezer and allow the cabbage 8 hours to freeze before removing it from the tray and transferring it to an airtight container.
24 Mar 2021

What is cabbage good for? ›

Cabbage, especially red cabbage, seems to raise levels of beta-carotene, lutein, and other heart-protective antioxidants. It also helps lower something called “oxidized” LDL, which is linked to hardening of the arteries. And since it eases inflammation, it can help prevent heart disease.

How does cabbage last longer? ›

Cabbage has a far lower water content than traditional greens like spinach and romaine, which helps to extend its shelf life. Wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator, the brassica vegetable can last for about two months.

How do you keep cabbage healthy? ›

Let the sunshine in: Cabbages need full sun – at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day. Water wisely: It's best to water in the morning and at the base of the plant (soil level) keeping the foliage dry. Plants should be watered when the top 2 inches of the soil becomes dry to the touch.

What are types of cabbage? ›

Cabbage

How do you store cabbage and potatoes? ›

Most vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, broccoli, cabbage and celery should be stored in a plastic bag or container in the crisper of your fridge. Mushrooms are best stored in a paper bag. Vegetables should be stored in a different part of the fridge than fruit. This will prevent them from ripening too fast.

How do you store leaves without a refrigerator? ›

Wash, dry, wrap them in paper towel, put in an airtight container in a frdge. Stays good even up to a month. 9. Separate all curry leaves and wash them properly!!

How do you store vegetables without a refrigerator? ›

Second, store them in a cool, dry, dark place with air circulation—never in a plastic bag or airtight container. I keep my garlic and onions in a dry food storage container without the lid.

How do you can cabbage? ›

Wash and blanch (boil) for 10 minutes in an open kettle. Add salt to blanching water in proportion of 1 level teaspoon salt to 1 quart water. Pack hot into clean BALL Jars, fill with blanching liquid, partly seal, and process for 2 hours in a Hot-Water Bath, or for 40 minutes in a Steam Pressure Cooker at 10 pounds.

How do you store cabbage Reddit? ›

Wrap individually in paper towels, in sealed plastic bag. Keep dry. Open plastic bag in crisper. Dark, dry place with air circulation.

What can be stored in cold storage? ›

Cold storage is used to store fruits, vegetables, processed meat, Dairy Products, Spices, Dry fruits, jaggery, pulses, frozen foods, chemicals, and pharmaceutical products. Prolonging and preserving the shelf life of food without compromising on the nutritive value.

How long does cabbage keep in the refrigerator? ›

Tips for storing cabbage

Wrapped tightly in plastic, a head of cabbage will keep for about two weeks in the crisper. Once cut, use cabbage within 2-3 days. Cover and refrigerate cooked cabbage within two hours of cooking and use within 3-5 days.

What temperature is normally used for storage of vegetables? ›

A general rule for vegetables is that cool-season crops should be stored at cooler temperatures (32 to 35°F), and warm-season crops should be stored at warmer temperatures (45 to 55°F).

Can you freeze cabbage leaves? ›

Cabbage can be frozen in shreds, leaves, or wedges, whichever works best for you. If you don't know how you're going to use your cabbage yet, it's best to freeze it in wedges. That will allow you to cut it into whatever size you need later.

Can cabbage be frozen successfully? ›

Once it's washed and cut up, cabbage can be frozen, but for longer-term storage, it's best to blanch it first. Blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to nine months, while unblanched cabbage will only keep for one to two months.

Is cabbage water healthy? ›

Cabbage juice is loaded with nutrients, such as vitamins C and K, and drinking it is linked to many purported benefits, including weight loss, improved gut health, decreased inflammation, balanced hormones, and body detoxification.

Is cabbage good for skin? ›

Cabbage also helps keep skin looking healthy, toned, blemish-free and glowing; it's rich in antioxidants (including vitamin C and beta-carotene).

Is cabbage good for pregnancy? ›

Cabbage is a significant source of folate, also referred to as folic acid or vitamin B9. Folate is one of the essential vitamins for pregnant women as it helps prevent neural tube birth defects in the baby, including spina bifida, cleft palate, and heart abnormalities.

What food can be stored for a long time? ›

Dried beans, oats, frozen poultry, peanut butter and frozen fruits and vegetables are some examples of nutritious items that have long shelf lives. These foods can be stored in the pantry, freezer or fridge for many months, which is why purchasing them in bulk is a smart choice.

How long can you keep cabbage after cutting? ›

Cabbage Partly Cut Or Shredded

To prevent more loss of nutrition and the faster process of deterioration, wrap the leftover part tightly by a plastic bag and store it in the crisper drawer. A leftover part of the head of cabbage should not be consumed 3 days after being cut or shredded.

How do I prepare cabbage? ›

Boiled or blanched

Put the cabbage leaves or shredded cabbage in a large pan and cover halfway with water. Bring to the boil and cook for 3-5 mins or until tender. To blanch (so they can be sautéed or fried later), cover with water and boil for 3 mins. Transfer the leaves to cold water to refresh.

Do cabbages need to be washed? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten so why wash it? There's good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, remove the thick outer leaves, cut the cabbage into wedges, and rinse them in a colander under running water.

How long does cabbage stay good in the fridge for? ›

Tips for storing cabbage

Wrapped tightly in plastic, a head of cabbage will keep for about two weeks in the crisper. Once cut, use cabbage within 2-3 days. Cover and refrigerate cooked cabbage within two hours of cooking and use within 3-5 days.

How do you store cabbage long term in a root cellar? ›

To store cabbage in a root cellar, store plant roots, head, and all: place heads in rows on shelves several inches apart or hang the cabbage heads down by a string from the ceiling or store them on the floor wrapped in several layers of newspaper. You can also store cabbage in a garden pit or mound.

How long will cabbage last not refrigerated? ›

Make sure that before being stored in the fridge, the time left at room temperature is no more than 2 hours because anytime after this would affect your health since bacteria may have been growing inside before storing.

Can I freeze fresh cabbage raw? ›

You can freeze raw cabbage whole, sliced, cut into quarters, or shredded. Place the cabbage in a baking dish or on a sheet pan and place it in the freezer for 6-8 hours. Transfer individual portions of the frozen cabbage to airtight bags or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Write the date on a label or directly on the bag.

What temperature should cabbage be stored at? ›

Optimum Temperature

Most cabbage is room cooled. Storage at 0°C (32°F) is required to optimize cabbage storage life. Early crop round cabbage can be stored 3-6 weeks, while late crop cultivars can be stored for up to 6 months. For the latter, storage at -0.5°C (31°F) is sometimes recommended.

How do you know if cabbage is still good? ›

So, how to tell if cabbage is bad? The cabbage is bad if you see the soft texture, brown, yellow, or grey spots, the cabbage leaves are wilted and smell unpleasant. The shelf-life of the cabbage lasts up from 3 weeks up to 2 months at +32 °F in the ventilated package in the fridge.

Do you need to wash cabbage? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten so why wash it? There's good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, remove the thick outer leaves, cut the cabbage into wedges, and rinse them in a colander under running water.

Can cabbage be frozen without cooking? ›

It helps extend shelf life and preserve quality and taste. You can freeze cabbage without blanching, but it won't last as long. To do this, prepare and cut the cabbage, skip the blanching steps, and put it right into a freezer bag. Store in the freezer and use within a month.

How long does cabbage last in the freezer? ›

Pro tip: Blanching the cabbage before freezing increases its shelf life. You'll be able to keep your veggie at its best quality for up to twelve months when stored in a freezer.

Can you cook cabbage after it's been frozen? ›

Once cooled enough that no steam is coming off the cabbage, place the cooked cabbage in freezer bags. Remove the excess air, and then seal the bags. Cabbage can be heated directly from frozen and enjoyed as is.

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