Let's learn how to dehydrate cabbage. Unfortunately, cabbage doesn't have a lot of flavor on its own, but it absorbs the flavors of the spices you cook it with very well. Plus, it's inexpensive and healthy, so you can stock up on it without breaking the bank. I'll show you how to dehydrate cabbage using your oven or a food dehydrator. Let's get started!
Get Busy Dehydrating Cabbage for Soups and Coleslaw!
Dehydrating Cabbage: Yes, it can be done and is one of those vegetables that doesn't immediately spring to mind as being able to dehydrate—because it seems so dry to begin with—but it works very well!
A plus when slicing is that one head of cabbage goes a long way... and it's a great source of vitamin A, vitamin K, and Folate
It's not lacking in the mineral department either: it's also a good source of Potassium and Calcium, along with Phosphorus, with trace minerals of Selenium, Zinc, and Manganese.
Cabbage also contains Omega-6 fatty acids too.
Unlike some vegetables that need blanching, you can skip this step for cabbage. Blanching preserves vibrant colors, and as we all know, cabbage's color isn't vibrant! Having said that, dehydrated cabbage will get paler as time goes on.
Cabbage is used in traditional coleslaw. What summer picnic would be complete without it?
Simply rehydrate dehydrated cabbage at a 1:1 ratio. Meaning? A cup of dehydrated cabbage to one cup of water. Let it sit for about half an hour, or to your desired reconstituted consistency.
Try this classic coleslaw with a vinegar/mayonnaise dressing from Allrecipes.com and is sugar-free!
This recipe is sure to be a hit with your friends and family, so be sure to give it a try!
I love to add shredded dehydrated cabbage to my vegetable soups, just
drop it in—it's that easy—and it cooks along with the rest of the
vegetables.
When you're ready to re-hydrated your cabbage, see how to re-hydrate dehydrated food here.
Don't forget to add cabbage to your vegetable smoothies too. It's a delicious way to "eat yer veggies!" You can either re-hydrate the cabbage first, or add it to your smoothies "dry" - it will pretty much disintegrate in your blender.
Dehydrating cabbage in a regular oven is relatively simple. First,
Once dehydrated, the cabbage can be stored in an airtight container for up to six months. When ready to use, simply rehydrate the cabbage by soaking it in water for about 30 minutes. Dehydrated cabbage is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many different recipes. So next time you're in the mood for coleslaw or other dehydrated dishes, give dehydrating cabbage a try!
Hands down: an electric dehydrator! You can fill it and forget it.
If using a regular oven, keep your eye on cabbage towards the end of the drying time as you don't want it to scorch.
Follow the tips below on using a good, sharp knife and slice your head of cabbage evenly.
TIP: This is my FAVE knife by Trisha Yearwood. I don't miss my old Rachael Ray one that had an orange handle that went "funny/slimy." Trisha's knife cleans up easily, too.
Makes easy work of cutting and slicing so you can get busy dehydrating cabbage!
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Drat! Looks like my fave knife is unavailable right now... so here's another chef's knife with a full tang (that means the handle and blade "are one" so they can't come apart when we're slicin' and a dicin').
* As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. The price you pay doesn't increase.
Honest! It's seven trays! It's hard to believe, isn't it, that one head of cabbage filled seven Nesco dehydrator trays—and when you're done, it ALL fits into this soup bowl!
Store your cabbage in Mason jars for using often for soups, etc., or store in vacuum-sealed bags for long-term food storage. For great prices on Mason jars, check them out on our Mason Jars page.
Susan Gast began Easy Food Dehydrating in December 2010. Read Susan's story of what sparked her interest in all things related to "food dehydrating."
She is featured on Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI) who host this site. Read her first SBI interview, and her second SBI interview.
Since 1980, Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to create a "review site" of products related to the publishing industry. Visit ePubTechReviews today, also hosted by Solo Build It. Susan also runs her namesake site SusanGast.com on Solo Build It that showcases the books she has written since 2010.
Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!