How To Freeze Cabbage

So you got a lot of cabbage and no way to eat it all? FrugalPantry understands. That’s why we think you should take a look at this article, We show you how to freeze your excess cabbage the right way. Doing it right is the best way to get your cabbage stored successfully for a long time. So don’t be like the 60% of people who do it wrong!

BEST WAY TO STORE YOUR CABBAGE AFTER PURCHASING

The nice thing about cabbage is that it is relatively low maintenance produce. It is not overly difficult to store or freeze, If you do not intend to freeze the cabbage immediately and cook with some of it, then you can keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. The best way to store the cabbage in the refrigerator is to keep it in some type of airtight container. Before using this cabbage, it is best to discard its outermost layer of leaves.

There are two different ways to freeze cabbage, with and without blanching it. Blanching is the process of partially cooking something before storing it. Both come with their own benefits but if you have the time, blanching it before freezing is recommended so it stores better while frozen. Here are the two different methods of freezing cabbage:

Blanching Cabbage and Then Freezing

You will want to wash and rinse the cabbage before storing it. It is best to keep the bulb intact. Rinsing the cabbage is relatively simple, just soak it. You can add a small amount of salt to some water and allow the cabbage to soak for a few hours to properly clean it.
Now you will want to portion your cabbage out however you want to. If you are able to, keep the bulb intact. You can cut up the cabbage by slicing, dicing, or quartering it out.
Then you will want to blanch the cabbage by putting it in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Once a couple of minutes are up, immediately stop the cooking process by removing it from the hot water and placing it in a bowl of ice water. By stopping the cooking process immediately, the cabbage will store much better in the freezer.
If your cabbage is not whole, you may need to pre-freeze your portions. Just spread your cabbage out on a baking sheet and freeze for 6-8 hours uncovered.
Keeping the cabbage stored in an airtight container is essential for its longevity in the freezer. Wrap your portions in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. Label and date the bag so you know when it was stored.
Blanched cabbage can be stored in the freezer for up to 9 months.

Freezing Cabbage Without Blanching

Wash and soak the cabbage. Same as before, you will want to soak the cabbage with a small amount of salt in the water for a few hours.
Portion out your cabbage however you want it stored. Slice and dice it in whatever way you please fro storage.
If you are not storing the cabbage whole, pre-freeze your cabbage portions by putting them on a baking sheet and placing in the freezer for 6-8 hours uncovered…
Wrap the cabbage portions in some type of plastic wrap and then store in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag.
Label and date your cabbage before storing it. Cabbage that hasn’t been blanched can be stored in the freezer for about 2 months.

Obviously, there are pros and cons to each storage method. The largest pro of storing cabbage after blanching is that it can last for 9 months in the freezer. The con to that method is that it does require a little more effort because you do have to partially cook it before storing it. If you opt to store your cabbage without blanching, you save time and effort but sacrifice the longevity of the produce in the freezer. Either method is perfectly acceptable and it just depends on how quickly you intend to use the cabbage.

HOW THE USE FROZEN CABBAGE

The nice thing about frozen cabbage is that you do not have to thaw it to cook with it. You can just immediately throw it into whatever you are preparing and keep going. The only time you may need to thaw it out is if you intend to eat it raw. In that case, you can allow it to thaw out in the fridge for a few hours or it can thaw out at room temperature for about one hour.

The cabbage can be prepared in a number of different ways, some of which have already been mentioned, but here is a short list of what you can do with you cabbage if you are unsure of how to use it all.

cabbage rolls
cabbage wraps
fried sausage and cabbage
oven-roasted cabbage slices
stir fry
salad
coleslaw
saute and season cabbage
cabbage soup
corned beef brisket and cabbage

BENEFITS OF CABBAGE

Cabbage offers many benefits aside from it being a versatile vegetable to cook with. Cabbage is extremely healthy and can be very good for you. It is super nutritious and low in calories, giving you the best of both worlds. Cabbage is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients. Cabbage can aid in weight loss, heart health, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and help with digestion.

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