Can You Freeze Chinese Cabbage? – Know Tips & Tricks To Freeze Chinese Cabbage

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Can you Freeze Chinese Cabbage? Chinese Cabbage is a widely used, traditional Asian food item with a crunchy and slightly sweet flavor. When raw, it can be used in salads or as a wrap filling. It is also a common ingredient in stir-fries and soups.

However, what about its shelf life, Can you freeze Chinese cabbage? The short answer is yes. Freezing them also means they retain more nutrients, texture, and flavor.

That said, read on to explore how to freeze Chinese cabbage and other tips for the best results possible even know if can you freeze Chinese cabbage or not, and many more.

Can You Freeze Chinese Cabbage

Can You Freeze Chinese Cabbage?

The answer is yes, you can freeze it. Chinese cabbage is a delicious, versatile, and nutritious dish that freezes quite well.

Preserving this tasty treat is quite a piece of cake. Following some simple steps, you can easily freeze your Chinese Cabbage for extended durations of 8 to 9 months.

Moreover, freezing assists in retaining its nutritional value and flavor, allowing it to be used in a variety of recipes. So if you find yourself with a surplus of Chinese cabbage, don’t hesitate to throw it in the freezer! How do you do that? Let’s find out!!

How to Freeze Chinese Cabbage With Blanching Process?

If you’re looking to freeze and preserve your Chinese cabbage, here are a few things you’ll need to do first:

  • Start by trimming the cabbage of any discolored or wilted leaves. Then, cut the cabbage into thin strips, or wedges or simply separate the individual leaves.
  • Next, set a pot of water to boiling and also prepare a handy bowl of ice-cold water.
  • Following that, it’s time to blanch your Chinese cabbage. Blanching is a quick process of boiling vegetables to stop the action of enzymes that can cause freezer burn. To blanch Chinese cabbage, simply bring a pot of water to a boil and add the cabbage. Let it cook for 1-2 minutes before removing it with a slotted spoon and transferring it to an ice bath.
  • Once the cabbage has cooled, drain it well, patting it gently to dry. Remember for best freezing results drying the Chinese cabbage completely is quite necessary.
  • Place your Chinese cabbage pieces on a baking sheet or parchment paper and place them in the freezer. Freeze the cabbage for roughly six hours, or until it has frozen solid.
  • In the next step, transfer to freezer-safe bags or containers. Be sure to remove as much air as possible from the bags before sealing.
  • Label and date the bags, then pop them in the freezer!

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How to Freeze Raw Chinese Cabbage?

Well, freezing your Chinese cabbage raw includes the same procedure. However, this freezing method comes in handy when you are pressed for time and want to store it for a shorter duration. To preserve it raw:

  • Wash the cabbage and cut it into desired pieces.
  • Next, drain the cabbage and pat dry with paper towels.
  • Place it in a freezer-safe container, or a freezer-friendly zipper bag. Remove as much air as possible before sealing.
  • Label, seal, and Freeze for later use.

How Long Can You Freeze Chinese Cabbage?

Freezing works wonderfully for this leafy vegetable. When frozen with care and precision, Chinese cabbage retains more nutrients, texture, and flavor, extending its shelf life significantly. Moreover, when properly done, Chinese cabbage can be frozen for as long as 9 months!

How To Thaw Frozen Chinese Cabbage?

If you want to thaw your Chinese cabbage, the best way to do it is to place it in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow the cabbage to thaw slowly and evenly, preventing any damage to the delicate leaves. Once the cabbage is thawed, you can then cook it as usual.

In addition, for several recipes, you may use frozen Chinese cabbage straight from the freezer in the pan. Simply remove the desired amount of cabbage from the freezer and add it immediately to your soup, stew, or other delicacies.

The heat will gradually defrost the frozen cabbage, making it seem freshly made.

Some Useful Tips and Tricks for Freezing Chinese Cabbage

Below are some of the tips to know to freeze Chinese cabbage properly without going bad.

  • As mentioned earlier, Blanching is a rewarding step in freezing veggies. Therefore, Blanch the Chinese cabbage before freezing it. This will help to preserve its color and texture. However, if you are pressed for time you can also freeze Chinese cabbage without blanching it, but it will not survive as long.
  • Cut and portion the cabbage into smaller pieces or shred it before freezing, as this will make it easier to use later on.
  • Make sure to label the container with the date and contents before freezing, so you know how long it’s been in there!

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Recipes using Frozen Chinese Cabbage

When it comes to recipes using frozen Chinese cabbage, the possibilities are endless! Whether you’re looking for a hearty soup or stew, a simple stir-fry, or even a tasty slaw, there’s a recipe out there that’s perfect for you. However, not sure where to start. Well, this brings us to the next section, let’s discover some tasty dishes where you can use this versatile ingredient:

  • Stir-fry: This is the most classic way to use frozen Chinese cabbage. Simply stir-fry it with some other vegetables and your protein of choice.
  • Soup: Frozen Chinese cabbage is also great in soup. Add it to your favorite recipe or try a new one.
  • Salad: Toss frozen Chinese cabbage with some greens and other veggies for a quick and easy salad.
  • Baked goods: Believe it or not, frozen Chinese cabbage can also be used in baked goods like muffins and quick loaves of bread. Simply thaw the cabbage and add it to your favorite recipe.

FAQs on How to Freeze Chinese Cabbage

1. Can You Refreeze Chinese Cabbage?

No, avoid refreezing the Chinese cabbage. Refreezing often results in significant changes in texture and taste. Moreover, repeated thawing and refreezing of Chinese cabbage have an adverse impact on the vegetable’s high water content, resulting in an unpleasant cooking experience.

2. Can You Freeze Cooked Chinese Cabbage?

Yes, Chinese cabbage may be frozen after cooking. You can either divide the whole mixture into many smaller parts or freeze the entire batch at once. Use a freezer-safe storage container or a freezer-safe zipper-lock bag.

3. Can you freeze Chinese cabbage without blanching?  

Yes, you can. However, the time necessary to preserve Chinese cabbage without blanching is much shorter. For freezing without blanching, you have to proceed by simply eliminating the blanching step and placing the cabbage in freezer bags.

In a Nutshell

Hope that we have cleared all the queries that you have on whether can you freeze the Chinese cabbage or not.  When freezing, be sure to blanch the cabbage first to kill any bacteria and preserve its color and texture. That said, get going and enjoy savoring the taste of this versatile leafy food. Check out more vegetable articles like can you freeze lettuce, can you freeze salsa and many more on our canyoupreserve.com website.

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