How to Cook Cabbage in a Crock Pot? Easy Guide

Cooking cabbage in a crock pot is particularly convenient. So, how to cook cabbage in a crock pot? Come and take a look!

How to Cook Cabbage in a Crock Pot?

Prepare the ingredients:

Wash the cabbage thoroughly and cut it into appropriate sizes. To make the taste more diverse, you can also prepare some chopped onions and garlic.

Put it into the crock pot:

Pour chicken broth or vegetable broth into the crock pot. Then add the cabbage, onions, garlic, along with an appropriate amount of salt, black pepper, and olive oil in sequence.

Select the cooking mode:

Cook on the low setting (Low) for 2 - 3 hours. This will make the cabbage soft and tender, which is suitable to be paired with meat or served as a side dish.

Cook on the high setting (High) for 1 - 1.5 hours. The cabbage will have a chewy texture.

Adjust the seasoning: After cooking, adjust the seasoning by adding salt, pepper, or other spices according to personal taste.

Enjoy: After cooking, it can be eaten directly, or you can also pair it with sausage, bacon, rice, or bread!

Tips:

Enhance the flavor: Adding bacon bits, sausage, or ham will make the taste more rich.

Add a bit of sweetness: Adding diced apples or carrots will make the taste milder.

Reduce the amount of liquid: Since the cabbage itself releases water, you don't need to add too much liquid to the soup base to avoid it being too watery.

Do You Need to Add Water When Cooking Cabbage?

You can add an appropriate amount of water or use broth instead when stewing cabbage.

This is beneficial for the release of the nutrients in the cabbage and helps the flavors of all ingredients blend better.

But be careful not to add too much water, as the cabbage itself contains a certain amount of water.

Adding too much water will make the taste of the cabbage weaker. Generally, I recommend adding water or broth until it covers about two-thirds of the ingredients.

How Long Does It Take to Cook a Cabbage?

There are various cooking methods for cabbage, and the time required for different cooking methods is different. Besides using a crock pot, I've sorted out the following common cooking methods for you:

Boiling a Whole Cabbage

Time:

For a small whole cabbage (about 1 - 2 pounds / 0.5 - 1 kg): Boil for 8 - 12 minutes after the water boils.

For a medium-sized cabbage (about 2 - 3 pounds / 1 - 1.5 kg): Boil for 12 - 15 minutes after the water boils.

For a large cabbage (over 3 pounds / 1.5 kg+): Boil for 15 - 20 minutes after the water boils.

Boiling Cut Cabbage

Time:

For large pieces of cabbage (quartered): Boil for 10 - 15 minutes after the water boils.

For medium-sized pieces (about 3 - 5 cm per piece): Boil for 7 - 10 minutes after the water boils.

For shredded cabbage (suitable for stir-frying or in soup): Boil for 3 - 5 minutes after the water boils.

Steaming Cabbage

Time:

For a small whole cabbage: Steam for 15 - 20 minutes.

For cut cabbage: Steam for 7 - 10 minutes.

For shredded cabbage: Steam for 3 - 5 minutes.

What Is the Best Method of Cooking Cabbage?

Cabbage is a very versatile food, and there are quite a few cooking methods. Here are several common ways to cook cabbage shared with you:

Stir-Fried Cabbage: Simple and Quick, Preserving the Original Flavor

Stir-fried cabbage is one of the most basic and popular cooking methods.

Just wash the cabbage and cut it into appropriate-sized pieces. Heat a pan and add oil. Put in the minced garlic to sauté until fragrant, then add the cabbage and stir-fry quickly. When the cabbage becomes soft and the surface glistens slightly, add an appropriate amount of salt to season and then you can serve it.

This method can preserve the crisp texture and nutrients of the cabbage to the greatest extent.

Cabbage Soup: Nutritious and Warming

Cabbage soup has a fresh taste and high nutritional value.

Just wash the cabbage and cut it into pieces. Then pair it with vegetables such as onions, carrots, and potatoes. Add broth or water and stew. When the vegetables are soft and tender, add an appropriate amount of salt and pepper to season, and it's done.

The cooking method is simple and can fully release the sweetness of the cabbage.

Cabbage Salad: A Healthy Light Meal, Refreshing and Delightful

Low in fat and calories, it is suitable for consumption during the weight loss period.

Wash the cabbage and shred it. Pair it with shredded cucumbers and carrots. Add olive oil, vinegar, and salt to season, and mix well.

The cooking method is simple and can preserve the nutritional components of the cabbage to the greatest extent.

Roasted Cabbage with Chicken Breast: Crispy on the Outside and Tender on the Inside, with a Rich Taste

Wash the cabbage and cut it into strips. Cut the chicken breast into pieces, marinate them with seasonings such as salt and black pepper, and then put them into an oven preheated to 200°C and bake for about 25 minutes.

The roasted cabbage and chicken breast are slightly charred on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. Paired with your favorite sauce, it tastes delicious!

Cabbage Pancakes: A Creative Breakfast, Packed with Nutrients

Chop the cabbage, pair it with flour, eggs, scallions, and an appropriate amount of seasonings. Mix well, then put it into a frying pan and fry until both sides are golden brown.

It's suitable for breakfast and can also be used as a snack in the afternoon tea. It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and is extremely popular.

Which Vegetables Are Not Suitable to Be Put in a Crock Pot?

Lettuce:

Lettuce has a tender texture and a high water content. Since a crock pot takes a long time to stew food, after being stewed for a long time, lettuce will quickly become soft and lose its crisp and tender texture, becoming mushy. At the same time, it will also cause the loss of nutrients.

Spinach:

Similar to lettuce, spinach has thin leaves and a lot of water. Using a crock pot to stew spinach will not only make its color dull and damage its nutrition, but also cause it to develop a mushy and bitter taste, completely losing the original freshness and refreshing taste of spinach. Generally, it is not recommended to use a crock pot to cook spinach.

Mung Bean Sprouts:

Mung bean sprouts have a crisp and tender texture. If you put them in a crock pot and stew them slowly, they will become soft. At the same time, if mung bean sprouts are stewed for too long, there will be a strange taste, ruining the original sweet flavor of the mung bean sprouts.

How Long to Cook Cabbage in Crock Pot on High?

Generally speaking, if you cut the cabbage into large pieces and put it into a clay pot to cook at high temperature, it takes about 10 - 15 minutes to cook through.

If you prefer a more crisp and tender texture, you can cut the cabbage into fine shreds and cook for 3 - 5 minutes.

If you put the whole cabbage into the clay pot, then the cooking time will be longer, about 20 - 25 minutes.

Note that the temperature is very important when cooking cabbage in a clay pot. It is recommended to keep the temperature above 120°C. At the same time, to avoid the loss of nutrients in the cabbage, it is recommended to add a small amount of salt and oil when cooking the cabbage to better preserve its nutritional components.