A cabbage head has likely lived in your refrigerator for the past week. And this question kept coming to your mind: how long can uncooked cabbage good for in the fridge? Your raw, whole uncooked cabbage lasts about two weeks in the fridge; cabbage, cut or shredded, lasts about five days; and cooked cabbage lasts about four days.
However, if the cabbage is kept in a cold and humid place, it may last longer. Suppose cabbage is stored in a freezing zone (32 degrees F) with high relative humidity (95–98%). In that case, the stored cabbage can last up to five (5) months.
How long a cut, uncooked cabbage be kept in fridge?
A cut, uncooked cabbage can usually be refrigerated for up to a week. However, the quality and freshness of a chopped vegetable might deteriorate more quickly the longer it is held.
Store cut, uncooked cabbage in an airtight container or securely wrap it in plastic to increase its shelf life. To help preserve its freshness, store the cabbage in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator.
It is worth noting that cut cabbages will begin to turn a grayish-black color on any cut edge as they age.
For maximum freshness and benefits, it is always ideal to consume sliced veggies immediately.
How long can an uncooked head of cabbage be left out on a table?
The head of an uncooked cabbage will last for a week or more on your table as long as the room’s temperature is not too warm.
There may be some “icky” outer leaves, but you can peel those off and dispose of them.
The leaves are cup-shaped, so keeping them upright or upside down would prevent moisture from accumulating on one side, which could speed up spoilage.
For how long can you keep cabbage in the fridge?
Savoy cabbage only lasts 4 to 5 days in the refrigerator, compared to the two weeks that red, green, and white cabbage have. When it comes to storage, cut or chopped cabbage can last 3–5 days.
Cover and refrigerate your cooked cabbage within two days, then consume it within 4-5 days of preparation.
Use the cabbage within 3–4 days if it is a recipe component that includes other ingredients, such as cabbage rolls.
Cabbage can last a few days at room temperature but lasts about two weeks in the refrigerator.
Therefore, storing cabbage in the refrigerator is preferable to leaving it on the counter unless you intend to use or consume it immediately.
Can you freeze cooked cabbage?
Yes, you can indeed freeze cooked cabbage.
Your cabbages don’t need to be cooked before being frozen. However, you are more than welcome to freeze your prepared cabbage meal.
Put leftover cabbage dishes, like wraps or rolls, inside an airtight container or freezer bag if you want to store them. Place the bags in the freezer after that.
When you need more, take the bags from the fridge and thaw them for a while. After the food has had time to thaw, take it out of the bag, reheat it, and it’s ready for consumption.
Cooked cabbages not combined with sauces or other foods should be thoroughly dried on paper before freezing.
Then, flash freeze them for 20 minutes to cause them to harden. Finally, keep them inside a freezer bag and store them in the freezer.
Read: Nutritional Value Of Cooked Cabbage.
How long can you store cooked cabbage in the fridge?
Leftover cabbage may be a good choice for a late-night snack or even the following day’s lunch.
Use cooked cabbage within four days of preparing it.
Transfer the leftovers to an airtight bag or container (or keep them in a pot covered) and preserve them in the fridge once they have cooled to just below room temperature.
Ensure you don’t leave it at room temperature for more than two hours after cooking to be specifically safe. That is an example of the 2-hours guideline in use
Boiling cabbage can be kept in the refrigerator for 3–5 days if securely covered.
For your safety, avoiding consuming anything after storing it is best if you notice a strange odor or color change.
How to store cabbage in fridge for long time
If your cabbage isn’t wrapped, keeping it in the vegetable drawer is typically much more humid than in other places because the refrigerator tends to dry out food.
The ideal scenario would be to pick a fridge shelf and position the cabbage in the back if it is wrapped or placed in a resealable bag. There is typically the lowest temperature, while the sack maintains high humidity.
If that’s the case, use a perforated bag or leave the bag partially open so the cabbage can discharge any extra moisture.
You don’t want a lot of water droplets everywhere because that will hasten deterioration.
The effectiveness of both storage options—bags or no bag—is good, and the difference in storage periods is minimal.
Scrap that idea if you plan to wash the cabbage before storing it. Instead, wash it before using or preparing it so it doesn’t go bad too soon.
Finally, remember that cabbage is ethylene-sensitive, meaning that keeping it close to any farm produce that releases ethylene will hasten the rate at which it degrades.
As a result, you shouldn’t keep it close to ripening fruit like pears, apples, or bananas.
How to preserve cut cabbage in the refrigerator
Storing cut cabbage in the refrigerator can be challenging, especially if you want to maintain its freshness for longer.
Cutting cabbage results in a loss of some of its vitamin C and other nutrients, so it is preferable to leave the head whole.
However, do not rinse or wash the leftover part when storing your cut cabbage.
To reduce the loss of nutrients and lower the rate of deterioration, wrap the leftover part of the cabbage in an airtight container or plastic bag, squeeze out the air therein, and store it in the crisper drawer.
Wrapping the remaining cabbage in an airtight plastic bag, pressing the air out, and storing it in the crisper drawer can help prevent lost nutrients and slow the degradation rate.
By doing so, the cabbage will stay fresher for an extended period and help keep moisture out. You can also include a paper towel in the bag to remove extra water.
For best preservation, keep the temperature of your refrigerator at or near 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Any temperature above 40 degrees Fahrenheit might cause the cabbage to wilt and spoil.
Eat your cut cabbage within three days after the cut, or freeze it for later use.
To accomplish this, blanch the cabbage for a short time (1-2 minutes) in boiling water before cooling it off in cold water.
Pat it dry, put it in a freezer-safe bag, and keep the cabbage in the freezer for up to 6 months, which will help to preserve its texture, color, and flavor.
Contrary to unblanched cabbage, which only lasts 1-2 months, blanched cabbage can be frozen for up to 9 months.
How to prepare frozen cabbage
You can prepare almost anything with your frozen cabbages, from wraps to curries. Your options for using your leftover cabbage are endless. And you may not need to thaw your cabbage.
The fact that you don’t have to thaw frozen cabbage is its finest feature. After freezing and thawing, most veggies lose some of their crunch.
However, it would be of assistance if you did not waste time thawing frozen cabbages before cooking them.
You can put frozen cabbage right into the cooking pot or dish if you’re preparing soup or casseroles. You must let frozen cabbages thaw in your refrigerator for an entire night if you intend to use them fresh or uncooked.
The larger the piece of cabbage, the more time it takes to defrost. Therefore, plan.
How to tell if cabbage is spoiled
One of the rare times when a sniff test is practical is in this situation. Throw away any cabbage that smells strange right away.
If the leaves have grown soft and discolored, you can also tell when the cabbage has deteriorated. When you are doubtful, throw it out, as the old saying goes.
Is it possible to save cabbage that is beginning to spoil?
Cabbage that has just begun to go bad can be saved, like most things in life, if discovered in time. Some of the cabbage might still be edible if it’s still whole, and you can see the outermost leaves beginning to wilt.
Check that the underlying leaves have retained their color and texture by peeling back the layers of the wilting leaves.
After adequately washing the shredded, put away, and forgotten cabbage leaves, please give them a taste. It will be okay to eat the leaf shreds if they still taste good and have some texture.
Why does cabbage last longer compared to some vegetables?
As you may have seen, cabbage keeps far better than other vegetables. The lack of water in it is the cause.
Bacteria require a water source to survive, so they swiftly deteriorate vegetables with high water content.
However, cabbage contains significantly less water than even other greens like spinach. Because of this, you can safely enjoy fresh cabbage for a more extended period.
Still, all good things will not last forever. So, consume your cabbage as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Cabbage is a healthy and adaptable vegetable. Why should you be forced to skip it throughout the year?
Fortunately, you don’t. You can freeze cabbages and enjoy them throughout the year with just a little effort on your part.
You can now freeze cabbages independently with a bit of assistance from the given information. I wish you a healthy life!