The Smart Trick To Avoid Soggy Coleslaw

Coleslaw is an essential sidekick for all of your summer meals. The one problem is that there are so many watery coleslaws out there. Here's a smart way to avoid coleslaw soup.

May 23, 2024 - 17:00

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Coleslaw — Simply Recipes / Getty Images

Summer is basically here, so I have three important questions:

Did you remember to stock up on sunblock? Sunburn hurts.
What should we drink all summer long? Definitely this.
What's your favorite coleslaw?

Whether you like the yellow mustardy version, sweet and tangy slaw with buttermilk, or the vinegary chopped stuff, coleslaw is an essential sidekick for all your summer meals. I eat my weight in shredded cabbage every summer.

One problem with coleslaw? You dress the cabbage when it's fresh and crunchy, but it releases moisture as it sits and becomes slaw soup. One minute it's too perky and the next minute it's slack and watery. The good news is that there's a smart way to avoid soggy coleslaw: Salt the cabbage. It's easy and doesn't take long.

Shredded Cabbage in a Colander for Curtido Recipe — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Why Salting Your Slaw Helps

As coleslaw sits, the salt in the dressing pulls moisture from the cabbage and dilutes the dressing. When you salt the cabbage before dressing it, you get a few advantages:

You get rid of excess water in the cabbage.
The salt seeps into the cabbage and seasons it.
The cabbage softens just a little—no one likes raw or tough cabbage—but still retains its crunchy texture.

How to Salt Your Cabbage for Coleslaw

Add your shredded cabbage and other vegetables to a large colander. Sprinkle kosher salt all over and give them a good toss to coat. For every six ounces of cabbage, use about one tablespoon of kosher salt or 1/2 tablespoon of table salt or sea salt.

Set the colander in the sink or over a large bowl, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. The salt will pull water out of the vegetables and drip out of the colander. You'll notice the cabbage gets tender. If you let it sit for too long, it will become too limp, which you want to avoid.

Rinse the cabbage under cold running water to get rid of the salt on the surface of the cabbage. Now you have to dry the cabbage before dressing it. There are two ways you can do this: spread it out on a clean kitchen towel and pat it dry or spin it in a salad spinner. Your cabbage is ready to get dressed and get the spotlight it deserves.