Salads are incomplete without cabbage. It not only tastes good but is also packed with essential vitamins. They have been cultivated for more than four thousand years due to their crisp taste and nutritional value.
With cabbage at home, I don’t have to worry about cooking. I can cook different styles of cuisine with cabbage. As I have a small family, most of the time, I end up with excessive cabbage. I usually store it, so I can have it whenever I want.
I try out different methods for storage. When I have a shortage of time, I store raw cabbage in my refrigerator. However, I usually freeze-cooked cabbage. Yes, you read it right, cooked cabbage can be frozen for later use.
Can You Freeze Cooked Cabbage?
As cabbage is a seasonal veggie with a short time period in the market, you can easily freeze the cooked cabbage to use it all year long.
Preserving the cooked cabbage is not only time-saving but also ease your meal preparations. It is an all-purpose vegetable, so you can pair up the cooked one with meat, chicken, or other veggies to make different combos.
One segment of my freezer always remains occupied with zip-lock bags containing cabbage. I mostly cut them according to the purpose they will be used for.
How to Freeze Cooked Cabbage?
You can go for a number of ways to freeze the cooked cabbage. However, the first and foremost thing is to pick a fresh cabbage with solid heads from the grocery shop.
Wash the cabbage thoroughly under running tap water and remove any withered or spoiled leaves. Pat dry with a kitchen towel properly.
Next, cut the cabbage as per your required shape. You can separate the leaves, cut thin slices or chop them into big pieces.
Blanching is the most common way people opt to freeze the vegetable. You just need to boil the water and, on the other side, keep the icy water in a bowl.
Once the water is boiled, put the already cut cabbage into the water, leave it for 1 to 2 minutes and then strain the water and put the cabbage in cold water. Once the cabbage is cool, take out the cabbage, pat dry, and save it in an airtight container.
Another method is to cut the cabbage into thin strips, heat the pan and add a few drops of oil. Sprinkle your desired seasoning on the strips and sauté them for a few mins on medium heat.
Take out the cabbage, spread it on a tray, and allow them to cool. Once cool, keep them in a zip lock bag and place them in the freezer.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Cooked Cabbage?
As I shared two different methods to store the cooked cabbage in the freezer, you might be thinking, which one is the most efficient method?
There’s not any single method I would suggest is the most excellent, as different methods work best for various people.
If I talk about myself, so among the different methods discussed above for freezing the cooked cabbage, the most efficient one for me is the blanching.
Blanching not only keeps the veggie fresh for a longer period of time but also makes it defiant to the cold temperature. Boiling the cabbage removes the microorganism and helps it to maintain its color and flavor.
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How to Thaw Cooked Cabbage?
Whenever you need to prepare the meal, the easiest way to defrost your frozen cabbage is to place it in the refrigerator 5-6 hours before use.
This way, it will melt slowly and will not become soggy. Thawing is effective when you need to use the cabbage for coleslaw or pasta.
For casseroles, soups, or stews, you can directly put the frozen cabbage. Another great tip I would like to share is that whenever you freeze the cabbage, always store it in smaller packets according to your usage.
This way, you can add the desired quantity directly to your cooking pot and don’t have to wait to thaw it completely.
How Long Does Cooked Cabbage Last In The Freezer?
Depending on the circumstances, the cooked cabbage can be kept in the freezer for up to nine months or more. However, I try not to preserve it for more than 6 months.
It is important to freeze the cooked cabbage within two hours. The cooked one can stay in your freezer for a longer period if you remove all the excess air and keep it in an airtight jar or bag.
You can also use a vacuum sealer for this purpose. If the air remains in the container or zip lock bag, the cabbage is likely to get the freezer burned.
Final Verdict:
Cabbage is an all-rounder veggie. Freezing the cooked cabbage is advisable as compared to freezing them raw.
If you are freezing the raw cabbage, you will likely end up with a gooey and soggy product after thawing. You can freeze the cooked cabbage for as long as nine months to one year and use it even after the season ends.
Cabbage, when frozen after being cooked, would preserve the texture, nutrients, and flavor for a longer period. So, be happy to eat the cabbage for a whole year!
Is it better to freeze raw cabbage or cooked cabbage?
Cooked Cabbage is a better option for freezing as compared to raw one. Raw frozen cabbage has a short life, and they need to be consumed within four to six weeks after freezing.
Whereas the cooked cabbage can last up to more than nine months in your freezer. Raw frozen cabbage is more prone to freezer burns.
What happens to cabbage when you freeze it?
When you keep the cabbage in the freezer number of changes occur. The nutritional value is locked in as freezing slows down the activity of enzymes.
At the times, moisture can be lost, so thawing can make it softer and dry too. However, frozen cooked cabbage remains as delicious as freshly cooked one.
Does freezing cabbage change the texture?
Cabbage leaves are perfect for wraps and thus can be used to make cabbage rolls. Yes, you can definitely freeze the cooked cabbage rolls.
However, you need to make sure to freeze them step-wise by putting them first in the refrigerator and then in the freezer.
Does cooked cabbage cause more gas than raw?
Most of the time, there are no visible changes in the texture of the frozen cabbage. They remain nutritious; however, at times when it is thawed, due to melting ice, the cabbage can be soggy, and you might not get the crispy strips, so, it is advisable to use them in soups or stews.
Can you freeze cooked cabbage rolls?
This is the most common question I get, when I share the benefits of cooked cabbage. No, the cooked cabbage doesn’t make you feel bloated, or it doesn’t cause gas.
Even the raw cabbage is more likely to do this because when you are cooking breaks down the complex sugar, and it is easily digested.
Can you freeze cooked cabbage and potatoes?
It’s a definite yes. There is no issue in freezing the potatoes and cabbage. Cooking is the key; avoid freezing them raw.
It is advisable to freeze both the veggies separately in an airtight container as it would be easy to thaw and use when needed.
why does frozen cabbage turn brown?
If you are using an airtight container, your cabbage is not likely to turn brown. But if it happens, it indicates the presence of air in the container.
When the oxygen comes in contact with the enzymes, enzymatic browning occurs. However, it only changes the texture, but the cabbage remains nutritious.
