More often than not, when you buy a head of cabbage, you end up with more than you know what to do with. Fortunately, cabbage can be frozen both raw and cooked. So after you make coleslaw, save the rest and freeze it!
Cabbage can be frozen raw or cooked, in leaf, chopped, or shredded form, depending on what you plan to use it for, and how big your freezer is.
How to Freeze Raw Cabbage
The process for freezing raw cabbage is the same whether the cabbage is green or red, as color makes no difference in the process. The first thing to note is that frozen and then thawed cabbage is not ideal for raw preparations. So these methods are ideal for raw cabbage that will be cooked.
Freezing cabbage leaves
If you wanted to make cabbage rolls, this method is best.
- Separate the cabbage leaves from the head, and thoroughly wash and dry them. You can also place them in a salad spinner to remove all excess moisture.
- On a clean cookie sheet, arrange the cabbage leaves with minimal contact between them.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours, or until firm.
- Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight ziplock bag.
Freezing chopped cabbage
Frozen chopped cabbage is ideal for stir-frys and sides.
- Separate the cabbage leaves from the head, and thoroughly wash and dry them. You can also place them in a salad spinner to remove all excess moisture.
- Chop the cabbage to your desired shape, and arrange on a clean cookie sheet. While you can just add the chopped cabbage to an airtight freezer bag, this will cause the cabbage pieces to stick together into one giant mass. Freezing the pieces separately makes it easier to take out smaller portions as needed.
- Freeze for 1-2 hours, or until firm.
- Remove from cookie sheet and place in an airtight ziplock bag.
Freezing shredded cabbage
Shredded cabbage can also be used in stir-frys, or as a rice substitute. The process for freezing shredded cabbage is the same as freezing chopped cabbage, except instead of chopping, shred! You can speed up the process by using the shred attachment on your food processor, instead of using a hand grater. Once again, frozen cabbage is not ideal for raw uses after thawing, so this may not make the best coleslaw.
How do I tell if the cabbage is bad?
Before freezing your cabbage, check to make sure that the vegetable is still fresh. To tell if your cabbage has spoiled or gone bad, give it a sniff. If it stinks and smells kind of like a rotten egg, it’s time to retire it to your compost pile! However, if you had half a head of cabbage, and the exposed side looked a little dry, you can simply cut off the edge to reveal a fresh layer, and proceed to cook or freeze it.
Final Thoughts
Freezing cabbage is pretty easy but does take a little bit of patience and some freezer space. Once frozen, cabbage will last for several months in the freezer if stored properly in an airtight freezer bag or container. Then you can always have some on hand to make some delicious stir fry!
