Can you freeze cabbage leaves?
Can you freeze cabbage leaves? Yes, you can freeze cabbage leaves for about 10 to 12 months, provided you blanch them first.
Cabbage leaves freeze well, but their texture changes over time. Thawed cabbage leaves will be soft and hold more water than fresh cabbage leaves. However, they will be no less delicious.
The method below applies to all varieties of cabbage, including collard greens and kale (kale) leaves.
How to freeze cabbage leaves?
Cabbage leaves are delicious and excellent for your health. So it’s worth keeping a few in your freezer, but they need to be prepped before freezing. You have to whiten them first.
If you don’t blanch your cabbage leaves, they are unlikely to survive without turning to mush in the freezer. Here’s how:
- Choose cabbage leaves in good shape. Remove bruised or wilted leaves.
- Wash cabbage leaves thoroughly in cold water to remove dirt, dust and insects.
- Cut or shred the cabbage leaves into manageable sized pieces. Small leaves can be frozen whole, but large leaves must be cut off.
- Next, boil water in a saucepan and fill a basin with cold water. Keep the basin close to the stove because you will need to have it close at hand. Once the water boils, put the cabbage leaves in a metal colander and plunge them into boiling water. Leave the cabbage leaves in boiling water for 3 minutes, then remove the colander and immediately plunge the cabbage leaves into the basin filled with cold water.
- Drain and let the cabbage leaves dry. You can pat them with paper towel to save time.
- Once the cabbage leaves are dry, put them in a resealable freezer bag. You can use multiple freezer bags if you want to freeze individual portions.
- Seal the freezer bag tightly, pushing out as much air as possible.
- Label the freezer bag with the date and contents, then put the cabbage leaves in the freezer.
What is the shelf life of cabbage leaves in the freezer?
The cabbage leaves, blanched beforehand, can be kept for about 10 to 12 months in the freezer.
How to thaw cabbage leaves?
The best approach is to not thaw your cabbage leaves and use them as is. Add them directly to your recipe or cook them according to your favorite method, without defrosting them first.
If you want to thaw them, you can put them in a bowl in the fridge to thaw for several hours or overnight.
Can you refreeze cabbage leaves?
We do not recommend refreezing cabbage leaves. They would not withstand a second freezing and would become unusable.
