• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Dehydrating
    • Dehydrating FAQ
    • Best Dehydrators
  • Canning
  • Shop

The Purposeful Pantry

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Dehydrating
  • Canning
  • Subscribe
  • You Tube
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Dehydrating
    • Canning
    • Subscribe
    • You Tube
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dehydrating

    Author: Darcy Baldwin • This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases

    How to Dehydrate Cabbage

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Dehydrated cabbage in a jar with fresh cut cabbage in the foreground
    Dehydrated cabbage in a jar with fresh cut cabbage in the foreground

    Dehydrate cabbage to use in coleslaw, stir-fry, soups, and more throughout the year! You can make cabbage shelf-stable, even if you don't know how to ferment it!

    Bowl of sliced cabbage and cabbage head for dehydrating

    Cabbage is often looked at as a throwaway vegetable because people don't know how to preserve it other than fermenting. But you can easily dehydrate it and use it for so many things.

    Yes, even coleslaw! It won't be your typical coleslaw, a little softer, but it still works!

    Types of Cabbages

    Cabbages are great balls of leafy goodness for those that love it. It's great for making fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, coleslaw, salad, colcannon and so much more!

    But did you know there are a variety of cabbages to choose from - not just the typical red and green you find in the store?

    • Green -- what most people are familiar with for making sauerkraut and coleslaw.
    • Red  -- tends to be smaller than green, and makes a great color addition to coleslaw and other salads. It's perfect for pickling, too!
    • Savoy
    • White 
    • Napa -- looks a little more like Romaine lettuce than typical cabbages. It's perfect for salads and stir frys. This is also known as Chinese Cabbage.
    • Bok Choy -- another variety that looks more like lettuce than cabbage. Great for stir frys. It's also good for roasting.

    How to Dehydrate Cabbage

    Dehydrating cabbage is a good beginner's dehydrating project since so little preparation is needed. It's a quick-dry project, easy to store, and so versatile in usage.

    Equipment Needed:

    • Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Dehydrator
    • Storage Container - I prefer glass jars, but mylar bags and vacuum seal bags work well for cabbage.

    A Note about Blanching

    Cabbage falls under the "if you eat it raw, you don't have to blanch it" column. This means that while it is recommended to blanch cabbage to stop the enzymatic process that makes foods degrade faster on the shelf, it isn't necessary. So you can choose to blanch for 2 min or leave as is.

    Cabbage head being sliced in preparation for dehydrating

    Directions:

    1. Remove the outer leaves from each head of cabbage.
    2. Cut into quarters, then cut the core at an angle to remove
    3. Wash at this point, or cut in the next step and clean the strips. You can use a Salad Spinner to remove the excess moisture.
    4. Cut into thin strips approximately no more than ¼" wide. I prefer to cut longer pieces in half to make storage and eating later easier. You can also use a shredder attachment on your food processor.
    5. Place on dehydrator trays. You can mound them a little as they will shink like other greens do as they dry.
    6. Dry at 125F/52C for 8-12 hours until they are crunchy and break easily
    7. Allow to cool before testing
    8. Condition
    9. Store in an airtight container for up to a year.
    Before and after image of drying cabbage in a Sahara Dehydrator

    Conditioning and Storing

    Conditioning is the process of keeping your dehydrated cabbage in a large container for five days, shaking once a day. It allows the residual moisture to even out through the whole batch. It also allows you to see any moisture issues long before mold sets in.

    Once you've conditioned, place into an airtight container, such as glass jars, vacuum seal bags or mylar bags, for 12-18 months. This is the optimal time to store dehydrated foods to keep the most of the nutrients and color. You may get longer, but over time, they may begin to change color and degrade in texture.

    Dehydrated cabbage in a ⅓ cup measure to show drying yield

    Yield

    1 packed cup of fresh cabbage is approximately equal to ¼ cup dried.

    Rehydrating Dried Cabbage

    Reconstituting cabbage is so easy to do!

    • Simmer in a soup or stew
    • Place in a container and cover with water to allow it to rehydrate. I generally put just enough water to cover it.
    Dehydrated cabbage rehydrating in a bowl of water

    Uses

    Dried cabbage can be used in a variety of dishes.

    • Coleslaw - while not the typical fresh crunchy coleslaw, this will make a softer version.
    • Taco topping - makes a fun crunchy topping for fish tacos and other street taco kinds of meals when fresh isn't available.
    • Soups - add it to any ramen, soup, or stew without the need to rehydrate.
    • Colcannon. Yes - you can use dehydrated for this version as long as you rehydrate first!
    • Add to scrambled eggs
    • Stir fry - yes, you can! You can rehydrate first, or just toss it in as-is!

    Do I need to blanch cabbage before dehydrating it?

    No. You can, but it's not necessary. Though know that over time, your cabbage may begin to lose its color when not blanched. But rotate through it, and you won't have to worry.

    Can I powder dehydrated cabbage?

    Yes - you can powder it and add it to your green or vegetable powder.

    Do I have to vacuum seal it?

    Vacuum sealing nor O2 absorbers are necessary for storage. But it can be helpful for long-term storage to help as insurance against those agents (oxygen and moisture) that can make food degrade more over time.

    Can I dehydrate bagged cabbage?

    Yes! Those bags of coleslaw mix are a perfect way to get started dehydrating without the fuss of slicing and chopping. Just throw it onto your dehydrator trays and dry as above!

    How long does dehydrated cabbage last?

    Properly dried and stored, cabbage

    What does dried cabbage taste like?

    Rehydrated, it tastes like cabbage that has a bit of a bite to it, but isn't crunchy.

    Dehydrating Basics ebook on a tablet with a cup of coffee on a wooden background
    Bowl of sliced cabbage and cabbage head for dehydrating
    Print Recipe
    4 from 3 votes
    PIN THIS!!

    Dehydrate Cabbage

    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Keyword: cabbage
    Author: Darcy Baldwin

    Equipment

    • Dehydrator
    • Knife
    • Cutting Board

    Ingredients

    • Cabbage

    Instructions

    • Remove the outer leaves from each head of cabbage.
    • Cut into quarters, then cut the core at an angle to remove
    • Wash.
    • Cut into thin strips approximately no more than ¼" wide, ⅛" (3mm) is a better cut.
    • Place on dehydrator trays. You can mound them a little as they will shink like other greens do as they dry.
    • Dry at 125F/52C for 8-12 hours until they are crunchy and break easily
    • Condition
    • Store in an airtight container for up to a year.

    Video

    Tried this recipe?Mention @thepurposefulpantry or tag #thepurposefulpantry!
    Pinterest talk bubble to remind people to pin image
    Dehydrated cabbage in a jar with fresh cut cabbage in the foreground
    « How to Make and Use Citrus Powder
    How to Dehydrate Pasta »
    • Share
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Let me know what you think! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Connect with me!

    Howdy! I'm Darcy! I've spent the last twenty years learning how to stretch our budget to meet the needs of our growing family. I want to help you succeed at it, too!

    More about me →

    NEWEST POSTS

    • 25 Ways to Preserve Zucchini
    • How to Dehydrate Basil
    • DIY Zucchini Chips
    • How to Dehydrate Scallions or Green Onions

    Howdy! I'm Darcy! I've spent the last twenty years learning how to stretch our budget to meet the needs of our growing family. I want to help you succeed at it, too!

    More about me →

    NEWEST POSTS

    • How to Dehydrate Pasta
    • How to Make and Use Citrus Powder
    • How to Dehydrate Carrot Tops
    • How to Dehydrate Carrots (+Video)

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Who We Support

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Youtube

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 The Purposeful Pantry by Purposeful Media, LLC