Can you freeze cabbage? Raw, blanched and cooked
Can you freeze cabbage? Yes, for cooked dishes. Blanching time, storage window and what to make with frozen cabbage, from National Center for Home Food Preservation guidance.
Yes, you can freeze cabbage, but it only works for cooked dishes. The National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) says to blanch shredded cabbage for 1 1/2 minutes, cool it, pack it and freeze it. Thawed cabbage turns soft, so use it in soup, stew or a braise, not slaw.
Can you freeze cabbage?
Yes, with one rule from NCHFP: frozen cabbage and Chinese cabbage are suitable only as a cooked vegetable. The freezer breaks down the cell walls, so thawed leaves go limp and won't crunch.
That makes freezing a good fit for the half head that's about to go soft in the crisper. It's a poor fit if you were hoping to save cabbage for coleslaw.
How can you freeze cabbage raw, without cooking it first?
You blanch it first, which is a quick heat treatment, not real cooking. Straight-from-raw is not the recommended route. NCHFP calls blanching a must for almost all vegetables, since it stops the enzymes that cause loss of flavor, color and texture.
- Pick a solid, fresh head and trim off the coarse outer leaves.
- Cut it into medium to coarse shreds or thin wedges, or separate the head into leaves.
- Water blanch for 1 1/2 minutes (NCHFP blanching times).
- Cool promptly in ice water, then drain well.
- Pack with 1/2 inch of headspace, seal and freeze.
If you're freezing leaves for stuffing, see our guide to freezing cabbage rolls.
Can you freeze cooked cabbage?
Yes. Cooked cabbage is already soft, so it suits the same cooked dishes as blanched cabbage. Cool it quickly, pack it in a rigid container or freezer bag and use it in soups, stews or braises.
Treat it as a leftover first. FSIS says to refrigerate perishable food within 2 hours, and its cold storage chart gives soups and stews 2 to 3 months in the freezer. If your cooked cabbage is already in a soup or stew, use that window. FSIS doesn't list plain cooked cabbage, so 2 to 3 months is a cautious target for that too.
How long does cabbage keep in the freezer, and how do you thaw it?
Our cabbage storage page shows about 300 days for the freezer, which falls inside the NCHFP range.
When in doubt, throw it out. USDA guidance is that frozen food kept at 0°F stays safe, so the time limits here are about quality. If something smells off, looks slimy or was thawed on the counter, don't taste-test it.
What changes when you freeze cabbage, and what can you use it for?
Texture is the change. Frozen cabbage is tender and a little watery, so drop it straight into a pot where it can soak up flavor: vegetable soup, sausage and cabbage skillets, braised cabbage, or the filling for egg rolls and dumplings once it's squeezed dry.
Don't plan on raw uses. A thawed shred won't crunch in slaw or tacos. If you want crisp cabbage, keep a whole head in the fridge instead, where it lasts a good while.
More foods you can freeze like cabbage
Start with the can-you-freeze-it hub, or browse these:
- Can you freeze cabbage rolls?
- Can you freeze spinach?
- Can you freeze celery?
- Printable freezer storage chart
Cabbage freezing FAQ
Can you freeze cabbage without blanching it?
It's not recommended. Unblanched vegetables keep losing flavor and color in the freezer, and NCHFP says under-blanching is worse than skipping it. Blanch shredded cabbage for 1 1/2 minutes.
Can you freeze cabbage for coleslaw?
No. NCHFP says frozen cabbage suits cooked dishes only, so slaw will come out limp.
How long can you freeze cabbage?
Blanched cabbage keeps 8 to 12 months at 0°F per NCHFP, and the shorter end gives the best quality. Cabbage in soup or stew is best within 2 to 3 months.
Want to keep track of what's in your freezer?
Frozen food gets forgotten fast. Add what you have to Well Stockd and it estimates an expiration date for fridge and pantry food from typical shelf life, with the food closest to expiring at the top of your list. Freezer items don't get an estimated date, so write the freeze date on the package. Try it free and add three foods from your kitchen to see what you can cook. Our guide to the best apps for tracking expiration dates compares the options if you want to shop around.
Sources: NCHFP, Freezing Cabbage, NCHFP, Blanching Times, NCHFP, How Long Can I Store Frozen Foods, FSIS, Steps to Keep Food Safe.