The Only Way You Should Store Cabbage, According to an Expert

Cabbage—whether green, red, Savoy, or Napa—needs the proper storage conditions to stay fresh and crisp. I talked to a farmer to better understand how to store cabbage to help it last longer.

Aug 7, 2024 - 16:00

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The Only Way You Should Store Cabbage, According to an Expert

pile of cabbage — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Cabbage is a surprisingly versatile vegetable to keep around and is forgiving to cook with. Slice cabbage thin for a salad, roast it in the oven with oil and spices, sauté it, or throw it in a soup—not all veggies wear that many hats! My favorite way to use cabbage is grilled with peanut sauce (seriously, try it).

Cabbage has specific storage preferences. Unless your grocery store offers halved cabbage heads, you typically buy an entire head. It's almost always more than you can use for your planned dish. Cue: a sad half-head of cabbage that sits forgotten in the back of the fridge.

One of the most impactful moves in my quest to minimize food waste has been learning to store food properly to maximize its life. I went straight to the experts and called up a head farmer, Marissa Pappalardo, at Killeen Crossroads Farm & Flowers, where cabbage is one of their bestsellers, to discuss the best way to store it.

The Best Place To Store Cabbage

According to Marissa, the best place to store cabbage is in the crisper drawer in your refrigerator. Once the cabbage is cut, the fridge is still the best place for storage, preferably in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer. “You can peel back outer layers if they start to look dehydrated or wilted. The more layers, generally the longer the cabbage can last,” instructs Marissa.

Marissa shared that a fresh head of cabbage should last up to a month in the fridge. That’s your hint: buy fresh cabbage! If you can find locally grown cabbage, it will have a much longer shelf life. After that, “it may start to get funky.” Funky cabbage is defined by an off-putting smell or soft and discolored leaves. Mold and soft spots are other indicators that your cabbage would be better suited to the compost bin.

Shredded cabbage on a wooden cutting board next to a chef knife — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

How To Store Different Types of Cabbage

Napa, green, Savoy, red… oh my! Properly storing different varieties of cabbage ensures the best flavor and texture for your dishes. With its crinkly leaves, Savoy cabbage is best kept loosely wrapped in plastic in the fridge, where it can last up to a week.

Red and green cabbages, sturdier and denser, can be stored in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator for up to two weeks, also wrapped in plastic to prevent moisture loss.

Napa cabbage, or Chinese cabbage, with its delicate, frilly texture, should be kept in a perforated plastic bag in the fridge and used within a week for optimal freshness. Each type of cabbage has unique characteristics, but all benefit from cold, humid storage conditions to maintain their quality and flavor.