A great ingredient to keep in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator is cabbage. Cabbage is an all-purpose vegetable with a crunchy texture when raw and a velvety, rich texture when cooked.
It’s hardy, full of vitamins, and great in salads, slaws, stews, and other heartier dishes.
Despite its long shelf life, cabbage does not last forever. However, producing more cabbage than you can use in a week is effortless.
When I’ve had more cabbage than I needed, I’ve sometimes wondered, “Can you freeze cabbage?” to assist in extending the shelf life while preserving the excellent raw texture.
You can make pasta or stir-fries that are quick to prepare and packed with flavor and nutritious vegetables if you keep vegetables like frozen shredded cabbage on hand.
Shredding your cabbage thinly and freezing it in a single layer are the steps in this process. When thawed, this flash freezes the individual cabbage strands quickly, giving them an incredible, almost raw texture.
Is It Safe To Freeze Cabbage?
Yes, freezing cabbage is safe. If you want to use cabbage in a recipe soon, keep it raw since it will keep in the freezer for around eight weeks.
However, blanched cabbage can be stored for up to 9 months, so if you are still determining when you will consume it next but want to extend its shelf life, choose this approach.
You may effectively flash freeze the cabbage by laying it flat and letting it freeze entirely to give it the most excellent texture possible.
After that, by putting the cabbage in a freezer bag or other airtight container, we may prevent freezer burn and oxidation, extending its shelf life.
How To Freeze Cabbage?
Because of its many leafy layers, cabbage needs to be thoroughly cleaned. After removing any tough or wilted leaves, the cabbage should be thoroughly rinsed or, even better, soaked for approximately 30 minutes to remove any grit.
The next step is to consider your intended use of cabbage and cut it accordingly. You can cut cabbage into quarters, separate the leaves, or cut strips.
Wedges are always a good choice because they are easy to store and can be broken down. Try to keep cores intact for wedges and quarters because it will help keep the leaves together.
Remember that you can freeze an entire head of cabbage, but there are better options than this because it will take a long time to thaw and use up a lot of freezer space.
Additionally, you will need to use the entire head because you will need to defrost it, which is only sometimes convenient.
Can You Freeze Cabbage Without Blanching?
It is possible to freeze cabbage without blanching it; It will only need to be used within four to eight weeks. Cabbage can be frozen once washed and cut up, but blanching it first is best for longer-term storage.
Unblanched cabbage lasts only one to two months, whereas you can freeze blanched cabbage for up to nine months.
Blanch the wedges of frozen cabbage for 90 seconds to get the most extended shelf life. After removing the wedges from the ice water, drain them using a colander.
Put a lot of wedges into freezer bags after they have frozen. Take out as much air from the bags as you can before sealing them. Depending on how big your wedges are, you can freeze the cabbage for 12 to 24 hours.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Cabbage?
To help prevent bacteria from growing while food is frozen, blanching entails putting food in boiling water for a short period.
On a cutting board, arrange your cabbage and cut it into thick wedges. Use tongs or a slotted spoon to add the chopped cabbage to the heated water carefully.
After cooking the blanched cabbage for a couple of minutes, place it into a bowl of icy water using a colander or a slotted spoon. Transfer the frozen cabbage to zip-top freezer bags so it can be stored for up to two months.
How To Thaw Frozen Cabbage?
Thawing cabbage might not be essential, depending on how you freeze it and how you want to use it. For instance, if you freeze cabbage leaves or strips and later decide to prepare soup, you may add the frozen cabbage.
You must first thaw the leaves or stripes in the refrigerator before using them to prepare coleslaw or cabbage rolls.
Also required for use before melting in the fridge are cabbage quarters and wedges. It’s generally a good idea to put frozen cabbage in the refrigerator the night before, but remember that, like with other food, the bigger the piece, the longer it will take to defrost.
How Long Does Frozen Cabbage Last?
Vacuum sealers work effectively. For sealing bags, remember to remove air. Avoid over-packing bags for the most effective freezing, and keep cabbage pieces in a single layer.
Use frozen cabbage within nine to fourteen months for the most incredible quality. Use firm cabbage as a standalone side dish in dishes like stewed cabbage, skillet cabbage, and onions. Or include it in hearty crock pot stews and homemade soups.
Additionally, coleslaw with a vinaigrette-style dressing can be frozen. Before deciding to freeze a significant quantity of a meal, do some online research and test it out on your family.
Does Cabbage Freeze Well?
Yes, you can freeze the cabbage. If you want to freeze a full cabbage, follow these instructions, regardless of whether you have a sizable garden harvest or merely found a fantastic deal at the farmer’s market:
In a gallon of water with one cup of salt, soak the cabbage. Any insects or other pests in the inner cabbage leaves will be eliminated.
Place the fully drained cabbage on a plate or tray lined with parchment paper. Place the tray in the freezer, then take it out and transfer the frozen cabbage to an airtight container after eight hours.
If you blanch the cabbage before freezing it, you can increase the shelf life of the food by up to 8 weeks.
Final Verdict:
Cabbage has a great deal of taste and may provide a variety of recipes with a lot of texture and substance.
You may use this versatile vegetable to make anything from a light salad to a hearty cooked corned beef and cabbage! You don’t need to thaw the cabbage before using it in most recipes.
Put the frozen cabbage wedges right into the hot soup or other preparation that you are preparing. To ensure that the cabbage is well heated, cook it for a few more minutes than you would if it were raw.
For this meal, you can use either red or green cabbage. Don’t forget to utilize your frozen cabbage within three to four months.
Related articles:
