The Best Way to Freeze Cabbage

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What’s the Best Way to Freeze Cabbage? Whole, sliced, individual leaves, or shredded?

I’ll show you how to freeze cabbage, from head to freezer bag, all the options and my favorites.

Wedges of cabbage in a blancher basket of water.

How Much Cabbage Do You Need for Freezing?

When freezing food, it’s hard to estimate yield because there are so many factors. I just make sure I have plenty of freezer bags or containers on hand. How much cabbage you’ll end up with will vary.

Firmly packed heads of cabbage will yield more than looser heads. That said, the Michigan State Extension Office gives these guidelines

  • “One medium head of cabbage is usually 1 ¼ to 1 ½ pounds.
  • One pound of cabbage will yield 3 ½ to 4 ½ cups of shredded cabbage.”
Wedges of fresh, raw cabbage on a wooden cutting board.

Step by Step Guide: How to freeze Fresh Cabbage

Step 1 -Pick Good Quality Cabbage

Choose nice firm heads of cabbage for freezing. These will be the highest quality and freshest cabbage possible, which will yield a better end product.

Step 2- Wash and Prep

Wash cabbage and remove any insect damage and blemished or course outer leaves.

Cut cabbage into pieces according to desired size.

  • You can make thick cabbage wedges like seen in my pictures.
  • You can also freeze it shredded.
  • Freezing individual leaves to use later for cabbage rolls also works.

Can you freeze a whole head of cabbage?

Actually no. Freezing whole heads would be difficult because of the blanching process. Another downside is they would take up a lot of freezer space.

Your best bet if you want larger pieces is to cut small heads at least in half, larger heads in quarters or wedges.

Step 3 – Blanching:

  • Bring water into a boil in a large pot.
  • Submerge cabbage into boiling water for 1½ minutes to blanch.
  • Cool Quickly. Using a pot or bowl of ice water is recommended and is probably the best method. I don’t always use ice. I’ll just run it under very cold water. The goal is to stop the cooking process.
  • A blancher basket makes blanching easy. You can find blanchers here.

Step 4 – Drain and Dry

Drain cabbage well before freezing. I actually patted my cabbage down in a lint free towel to remove excess water trapped between the leaves. You can also use paper towels. A salad spinner is a great option too. Excess moisture causes freezer burn.

Lowering a blancher basket of cabbage wedges into a pot of boiling water.
Cabbage wedges in my blanching basket.
Running cool water over blanched cabbage wedges in a blancher basket.
Cold Water rinse to stop cooking.
Drying blanched cabbage on a kitchen towel.
Pat leaves dry before packaging.

Step 5 Pack for Freezing

  • Use freezer-safe containers or bags. (my preference is freezer bags)
  • Remove as much air as possible before sealing.
  • Label and freeze immediately.
Packing a freezer bag full of blanched cabbage leaves.

Can You Freeze Cooked Cabbage?

Yes, freezing cooked cabbage is fine too. No need to blanch because basically it is already blanched.

  • Allow cooked cabbage to cool completely.
  • Pack it into airtight containers or freezer bags.

How do you use frozen cabbage?

Cabbage freezes well if you plan to use it later heated. It works great for soup, stew and stir fry later. Or even just heated and served with butter and salt. You would not want it on salads or for coleslaw.

Can You Freeze Cabbage Soup?

Yes, you can freeze cabbage soup, and it reheats beautifully. Here’s how:

  • Let the soup cool completely.
  • Transfer it to freezer-safe containers or bags.
  • Leave some space at the top for expansion.

Frequently Asked Questions on Freezing Cabbage

Can you freeze raw cabbage without blanching?

No, cabbage really does need to be blanched for maximum quality, to prevent it from going really mushy.

Can You Freeze Red Cabbage

Yes! Freezing red cabbage follows the same blanching process as green cabbage and works well in cooked dishes. BTW Purple cabbage is simply a different name for the same vegetable. So yes you can freeze purple cabbage too.

What does blanching do to cabbage?

Blanching slows down natural enzymic processes that break down food. Blanched cabbage will keep its flavor and texture.

Do you add salt when blanching cabbage?

I don’t, but you could add some salt to the water if desired.

Why is my cabbage turning brown in the freezer?

This probably means your cabbage has been in the freezer too long. Or was not blanched.

Final Thoughts

Still have lots of cabbage? Give this sauerkraut recipe a try! After fermentation, it can be eaten fresh or canned for later. YUM!

Recipe Card

How to Freeze Cabbage

Learn how to blanch and freeze cabbage – from fresh head to freezer bag.
Print Recipe
Wedges of cabbage in a blancher basket of water.
Prep Time:5 minutes

Ingredients

  • Cabbage whole firm heads
  • Water
  • Ice optional for shock bath

Instructions

Freezing Cabbage

  • Pick firm heads of cabbage for freezing.
  • Wash cabbage and remove any insect damage and blemished outside leaves.
  • Cut into pieces as desired.
  • Blanch cabbage for 1½ minutes in boiling water.
  • Immediately remove, cool down (use ice water if desired), and drain well before freezing.

Notes

Container Options Include:
Freezer Bags – my preference!
Rigid freezer containers – plastic with secure fitting lids
Glass jars – not really recommended… but possible. Using straight-sided, wide-mouth jars will have a lower risk of breaking.

Sources:

  • https: //nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/vegetable/freezing-cabbage-or-chinese-cabbage/#gsc.tab=0
  • https: //www.canr.msu.edu/news/cabbage_and_chinese_cabbage_storage_and_preserving_tips
  • https: //apps.chhs.colostate.edu/preservesmart/produce/freezing/cabbage/

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