Food Cooking Tips & Techniques Recipe Prep How to Shred Cabbage for Slaws, Salads, Tacos, and More Move over cauliflower, cabbage is having a moment. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 12, 2024 Close Photo: Lilechka75/Getty Images Cabbage is one of those vegetables that are packed with nutrients but has a very mild flavor, so it can be used in almost any dish. Most people only associate cabbage with coleslaw, but it works well with so many flavors and cuisines. In fact, you might actually be surprised by how versatile it is. Sliced cabbage can be used in stir fries, hearty salads, and cozy soups. It can also be used in filling for dumplings, as a crunchy sandwich topper, or simply sautéed with some garlic and onion. The Ingredient I Add to My Broccoli to Make It Even Healthier and Tastier If you’ve ever spent $5 on a bag of shredded cabbage to avoid shredding it at home, you might be saving time, but you’re not getting a big bang for your buck. Listen, we get that sometimes it’s worth it to pay for convenience, but preparing shredded cabbage at home could cut the cost in half and leave you with twice as much of the hearty veggie. While shredding a head of cabbage may seem like a labor of love, it truly requires little-to-no preparation, and all you need is a sharp chef’s knife and cutting board. Here’s how to shred cabbage in minutes. For a quicker process, use a box grater or mandoline slicer to get perfectly even shreds of cabbage in no time. Cabbage contains a lot of moisture, which can make certain dishes watery. Once you’ve shredded your cabbage, lay it out on a paper towel and sprinkle some salt over it to draw out the moisture. After about an hour, you can pat the cabbage dry with a kitchen towel and put it in a salad spinner to remove any excess water. What You'll Need Equipment / Tools Sharp chef’s knife Cutting board Mandoline slicer (optional) Box grater (optional) Materials 1 head green or purple cabbage Instructions Clean the Cabbage Prepare the cabbage by removing the outer leaves and then washing it thoroughly. Quarter the Cabbage Cut the cabbage into four equal quarters, and then use a sharp knife to remove the core from each piece. Slice the Cabbage For thin slices, use your knife to cut the cabbage lengthwise. If you’re looking for longer, bigger pieces, slice the cabbage crosswise. Enjoy (or Store) Your Cabbage If you’re not planning on using your shredded cabbage for a salad, tacos, coleslaw, or anything else immediately, you can store it in a paper towel-lined, airtight food storage container.