How To Cut Cabbage
by Katie Webster
February 23, 2023 Jump To Recipe
Here is how to cut up or “shred” a head of cabbage. Learn how to cut cabbage for your slaw, soups, salads and stir-fry recipes. Follow our step-by-step instructions, photos and watch the video showing how to properly and safely cut any type of cabbage.
Table of contents
If you have a recipe that calls for shredded cabbage, sliced cabbage or chopped cabbage and you are wondering how to cut it here are the steps to cut cabbage safely.
Equipment
- Cutting Board: You will want a large cutting board to cut the cabbage. Make sure to place a damp towel or square of sticky shelf liner under your cutting board to keep it from slipping as you cut.
- Large Sharp Knife: I recommend using a Chef’s knife for cutting cabbage.
- Mandoline: Alternatively you can use a mandoline to slice the cabbage (this makes very nice thin shreds that are perfect for slaw.) But if you do use a mandoline you will want to use a cut proof glove and use the hand shield too as they can be dangerous!
How Much Cabbage Does One Head Yield?
This varies depending on the size of your head of cabbage. We found that a 2-pound head yields about 8 to 9 cups of finely shredded or chopped cabbage.
Varieties Of Cabbage
As we discuss in our Comprehensive Guide To Cabbage, there are many varieties of cabbage. Common types you can find at most supermarkets in North America are:
- Green and Red Cabbage
- Savoy cabbage
- Napa Cabbage and Chinese Cabbage
The below tutorial is an effective way to chop any of these varieties of cabbage. Note the exception for cutting Napa Cabbage below.
Step-By-Step Instructions For How To Cut Cabbage
First, remove any loose or discolored outer leaves and trim the stem-end if necessary. Then cut the cabbage into quarters through the stem.
Next, remove the core from each wedge of cabbage by slicing a diagonal wedge from each.
After the core is removed, you can cut the wedges in half again to make them more manageable for slicing.
Next, lay each wedge, cut side down (for stability) and then thinly slice through into fine strips.
For Napa Cabbage
For Napa Cabbage (above) or Chinese Cabbage, you’ll want to do basically the same thing with one exception.
After the core is removed, and the wedges cut into smaller section to make them easier to cut, take half of the wedge, and pull half off the leaves into two separate stacks so the leaves lay flat. Press them down (rib side up) into a flat stack as you cut. See photo below.
Video: How To Core and Slice Cabbage
Cabbage Recipes
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
Print How To Cut Cabbage
- Total Time: 0 hours
- Yield: 9 cups 1x
Description
Learn how to cut cabbage for your slaw, soups, salads and stir-fry recipes. Follow our step by step instructions and watch the video showing how to properly and safely cut any type of cabbage
Ingredients
1 head cabbage, any variety (about 2 pounds)
Instructions
- First, remove any loose or discolored outer leaves and trim the stem-end if necessary. Then cut the cabbage into quarters through the stem.
- Next, remove the core from each wedge of cabbage by slicing a diagonal wedge from each.
- After the core is removed, you can cut the wedges in half again to make them more manageable for slicing.
- Next, lay each wedge, cut side down (for stability) and then thinly slice through into fine strips.
Notes
For Napa Cabbage or Other Chinese Cabbages
For Napa Cabbage (above) or Chinese Cabbage, you’ll want to do basically the same thing with one exception. After the core is removed, and the wedges cut into smaller section to make them easier to cut, take half of the wedge, and pull half off the leaves into two separate stacks so the leaves lay flat. Press them down (rib side up) into a flat stack as you cut.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: na
- Category: Vegetable
- Method: Knife Skills
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 17
Katie Webster
Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.
Wow – I am so glad I found this post. I seriously struggle with slicing cabbage. This has been a great help thank you.
Thank you, Jayne. Glad to hear you enjoyed the post!
This was such a helpful guide to cutting and prepping cabbage efficiently and easily every time! Bookmarking and saving this for the next time I cook with cabbage!
Thank you, Anajali! So glad to hear this post was helpful for you!
Thanks for the great tips!
You’re welcome, Holly! Thanks for reading.
I really appreciate all of your pictures and information on cutting the different types of cabbage properly. I will be bookmarking this page for future reference.
Thank you, Andrea! We’re glad the pictures helped you learn how to cut cabbage. 🙂
These are some great tips to make cutting cabbage a breeze! Was super clean and easy; thank you for sharing!
So glad these tips were helpful for you!