Cabbage is featured in many delicious, hearty, and healthy meals and can last longer than most vegetables. Cabbage can last between 3 days to 18 months, depending on the method of storing it!
A whole, raw cabbage can last about 1-2 months if properly stored in the fridge. Cooked cabbage can last 3-5 days in the refrigerator. Best quality cabbage in the freezer will last 10-12 months.
Cabbage contains very little water compared to a traditional vegetable like spinach or romaine, giving it a longer shelf life. When you go to the store to buy your cabbage, there are a few things you need to know so that you can select the right cabbage.
Cabbage in the fridge
How long does fresh raw cabbage last in the fridge?
Once you cut your cabbage, it begins to lose vitamin C and maximize your cabbage’s shelf life and refrigerate it in a plastic bag. Don’t wash it until you’re ready to use it. If appropriately stored raw cabbage in the fridge can last for 1-2 months!
Keeping your cabbage cold can help retain its crisp texture and nutrients.
You can also freeze raw cabbage; follow these steps.
- Wash the cabbage thoroughly and remove rough leaves
- Separate it into leaves or cut into thin wedge
- Blanch it for 2 minutes, then dip in ice cold water
- Drain excess moisture and place the cabbage into air-tight containers and freeze.
Does cabbage need to be refrigerated?
Once you cut off the head of cabbage, it quickly loses its freshness, so it’s best to use it the same day. If some have remained, sprinkle a few drops of water on the cut side, put in in a plastic bag, and refrigerate it.
How long can cooked cabbage last in the fridge?
At most 3-5 days, but for longer shelf life, freeze it in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bags.
What is the Shelf Life of Cabbage?
The duration that cooked cabbage in the fridge stays fresh depends on how it’s stored in the refrigerator within two hours after being cooked. To prolong its shelf life and preserve its quality, keep it safe to eat, use an air-tight shallow container or wrap it with aluminum foil before placing it in the fridge. If properly stored, it can last for about 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Cooked cabbage can also be frozen by freezing it in airtight storage containers or using heavy-duty freezer bags. If kept frozen continuously at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, they will retain their quality. Cooked cabbage that has been thawed in the fridge is good for only 3-4 days before cooking, but if it has been softened in cold water or a microwave, you need to eat it immediately.
Cooked cabbage at room temperature
If you leave cooked cabbage at room temperature, bacteria will quickly grow and should be throw away if you leave it for more than 2 hours. If the cooked cabbage has an off smell or has a funny appearance, don’t taste it; throw it away.
The good thing about cabbage is it has the most extended shelf life among all other vegetables. From selecting the right cabbage to how to store cabbage in the fridge, all these processes are essential in determining how long your cabbage lasts in the refrigerator. Cabbage can last between 3 days to 18 months, depending on the method of storing it.
Watch this for more on how to store cabbage in the fridge.
How to select the right cabbage
Tips
- An average cabbage weighs around 1-7 pounds, and a cabbage head should be large and not be fluffy, sober according to its size, and tender green leaves that don’t have any signs of damage, insect bites, blemishes, or dark spots.
- Fresh cabbage has a lot of outer leaves that are mostly removed as the cabbage ages. To get a new cabbage, check at the stem to ensure the leaves aren’t beginning to separate. This is an indication of how old the cabbage is.
- If you’re buying already shredded and bagged cabbage, remember to use it by the best before date. It saves you time, but it can be more expensive, and make sure to rinse it cold before eating.
- Cabbages either have a green or red color, look for the ones that are shiny and bright with an almost lime green color. As for red cabbage, go for the ones with a deep-maroonish color.
- Make sure the cabbage is firm to touch on the outside. If it feels soft and hollow inside rather than firm and compact, it could be rotten on the inside.
- Go for a cabbage that only has a few hanging leaves from the head. If it has many leaves that aren’t tightly pressed to the center, it may have a funny texture and flavor. Also, go for leaves that are crisp rather than soft because soft leaves could be because the cabbage is old or it’s damaged.
- Cabbages with a more massive head have a milder flavor than small ones that are more compact.
Other Questions about How Long Cabbage Lasts
How long does cabbage last after cut?
The best way to keep cabbage fresh is to wash and dry it before wrapping it in a mesh bag and keeping it in your crisper drawer. It should be good for about 2-3 days.
How do you know when cabbage is bad?
The most common presence of bad cabbage is when the leaves are shriveled and start to change the color from deep or bright green to yellow, grey or brown. In worse cases, once the cabbage is rotten, it doesn’t smell fresh or firm to touch anymore but replaced with a soft texture and develops an off odor.
Source: 10 Kitchen
Does cabbage need to be washed?
Although cabbage is usually clean on the inside because the outer leaves protect it, it’s good that you wash it. To preserve its nutrients, especially vitamin C, cut and wash the cabbage right before cooking or eating it.
Can fresh shredded cabbage be frozen?
You don’t need to blanch cabbage before you freeze it, but you need to use it before 4-8 weeks. But you can blanch it for 90 seconds to make the frozen cabbage last longer.
Can I freeze cabbage?
Freezing raw cabbage for months changes the texture and damages the structure. The best thing is to put it in the fridge, but you can cut into wedges before storing in the freezer.
Frozen cabbage can stay in good quality for more than 18 months.
