Shredding Cabbage The Easy Way

Stop wasting money on pre-shredded bags, but don’t stop preparing your favorite salads, slaws, soups, krauts and stir fries. Shredded cabbage is a vital and tasty ingredient when making these and other dishes, and many of us opt for expensive bags at the store instead of preparing it ourselves. Taking the time shred cabbage, by hand, at home will not only save you money, it’ll also improve any dish you prepare thanks to the fresh flavor and improved texture.

You can always use a knife, and do it by hand, but the results won’t be perfect, and it may take you a long time depending on your skill level. If you want to avoid wasting time, but also savor the delicious flavor that fresh ingredients provide, continue reading to discover a fast and easy way to shred your own cabbage.

Traditional methods only require you to have basic tools on hand, so most people will have one or more options for tackling this job. Although it can be fun and rewarding to chop each piece by hand, a high quality mandolin slicer can make this job simple to accomplish, and it’ll take seconds instead of minutes to shred a whole pile of cabbage.

When shredding with a specialized slicer instead of a knife, you can get long strips or short, and you can vary the width to get the exact thickness you want. As you slice, each piece will be uniform in width, so it will cook more evenly, and the texture will be consistent across the entire dish. When shredding on the spot instead of dumping out a package, you will always save time and money, but you will also enjoy more flavorful dishes thanks to the fresh ingredients.

The first set of instructions below will walk you through the steps required to break down a cabbage by hand. This will be a traditional technique, and it does require moderate skill to get good results. If you like to chop stuff by hand, then get out your cutting board and a big sharp knife, and continue reading to learn how to shred any red, green, savoy or napa cabbage like a knife wielding pro.

If you would prefer to use a faster method that requires no skill, or if you’d just like to know another way to accomplish this task, continue reading to discover other options for completing the job, and a fast and easy simply good way to prep your cabbage. You can achieve similar results with any method provided, but there’s no way you can use a regular knife at the same speed as a mandoline, and the shreds will never be as uniform in comparison.

How To Shred Cabbage With a Knife

Stuff You’ll Need:

(1) Head of Cabbage
(1) Chef’s Knife (Large)
(1) Cutting Board

How To Do It

First, begin by washing the head thoroughly, and then remove any yucky leaves. Use cold water, and then gently pat dry after washing.
After washing, you will want to quarter the cabbage to make it more manageable, and to remove the core.
Place vertically on your cutting board with the core side down. Cut straight down to divide in half.
Once you have to halves, cut again vertically to give yourself four wedges to work with.
Take each wedge, and place so that the core is facing down. Using your knife, cut at an angle to remove the core from each wedge.
Once you have four pieces that no longer have cores, you can proceed to shred.
Carefully slice along the vertical edge to slice into long shreds, or slice in the other direction to make shorter shreds. Continue chopping until the entire wedge is reduced making sure to keep a uniform width with each slice.
Continue to finish the other three pieces.

Other Traditional Ways To Shred Cabbage

Use a Box Grater:
- Cut the cabbage into smaller wedges and remove the core.
- Use the largest holes on a box grater to grate the cabbage into shreds.
- Be careful when you get close to your fingers, and use the safety guard if your grater has one.
Use a Food Processor:
- Fit your food processor with a slicing blade attachment.
- Cut the cabbage into small wedges and remove the core.
- Feed the cabbage wedges through the food processor’s feed tube to create evenly sliced cabbage shreds.
Use a Cabbage Shredder or Slicer:
- If you frequently prepare dishes with shredded cabbage, consider investing in a cabbage shredder or slicer. These tools are designed specifically for this purpose and can make the task quicker and more efficient.
Try The Knife and Fork Method:

- If you don’t have specialized tools, you can use a chef’s knife and fork to shred cabbage effectively.
- Cut the cabbage into wedges and remove the core.
- Hold a cabbage wedge with a fork and use a sharp knife to slice thin shreds into the bowl.

Remember to discard the tough core of the cabbage, as it’s not suitable for most recipes. Once you’ve shredded the cabbage, it can be used in salads, slaws, stir-fries, or any other dish that calls for this versatile vegetable.

A Fast and Easy Way To Shred Cabbage

Stuff You’ll Need

(1) Mandoline Slicer
(1) Chef Knife
(1) Bowl or Cutting Board for Collection

How To Do It

Depending on cabbage size and type, you may NOT want to core it first, but as far as recommendations go, we always suggest that you do. In the pictures, you’ll notice that we did not. The reason was two-fold in this case, but the circumstances were pretty unique, so most of you will probably want to remove the core on your head.

Ours was a small, homegrown head with very little core. We wanted to maximize yield in order to satisfy our recipe, so we chose to skip the removal step until the last little bit was left. We also had trouble finding our safety food holder that day, so the stumpy core at the end made a nice handle to guide the head while keeping our fingers safe.

You’ll also notice in the pictures that we used the slicer with a julienne insert in place. This is optional, and it will result in shorter shreds. We were making coleslaw, and we wanted shorter shreds, so we had the 7mm julienne blade in place while cutting. If you remove the insert and rely only on the v-shaped blade, you will get long pieces instead of short ones.

To begin, wash your cabbage in cold water, then dry. Remove any wilted leaves or damaged parts from the exterior.
Place the head onto your cutting board, and then cut in half vertically. Cut it again to end up with four equal wedges.
Take each wedge, and cut it diagonally across the front to remove the core.
Select one quarter, and pierce it with your safety food holder to secure it in place.
Set up your mandoline by selecting the thickness of your shred.
Insert a julienne blade if you want short shreds, or leave it out if you want longer shreds.
Secure your slicer to the collection bowl, or place it over a cutting board to collect the stuff that falls.
To shred, take your cabbage wedge in your food holder, and glide down the face of the slicer.
Continue with an up and down motion until every piece is shredded. Use the plunger at the top of the food holder to reveal more cabbage as needed.
Repeat with other three wedges until shredding is complete.
The shred thickness you need will depend on what you are making. Most soups call for a thick shred (1/4″ to 1/2″) while krauts and slaws usually have finer pieces that are closer to 1/8″.

With this method, each shred will be just as thick as the next, and you can easily power through the whole head in a matter of minutes. The sharp blade allows you to glide effortlessly as you cut, and the food holder keeps your fingers safe while allowing you to cut every last bit.

You can easily adjust thickness and length, and you are guaranteed professional looking results no matter what your skill level is. Although you will have to core the cabbage by hand before you get started, the blazing speed at which you can finish the rest of the job will certainly make up for the initial effort required.

Once your cabbage is shredded, it’s best to use it right away, but you can certainly store for a few days if needed, just make sure to seal the shreds in an airtight container or bag.

Why Shred Cabbage By Hand?

Buying a Head Is Cheap: Why pay 4 or more dollars for one little bag when you could procure a whole head at like 60 cents a pound? Start breaking down that single head , and you’ll quickly realize that you can make way more than a bag full at a fraction of the price.
Bagged Produce Is Pretty Awful: Nothing like a flavorless bag full of mushy shreds to make you want to slice up your own crispy batch from a fresh head. Pre-bagged stuff is far from fresh, and it is often flavorless, limp and light in comparison.
Food Processors Are Too Hard Core: You don’t need a fancy machine to do this job, and if you use one, it may just pulverize your veg into something you don’t want to eat. You certainly won’t get long pieces with perfect thickness, and you may get a pile of mush you can’t even work with.

What To Use Shredded Cabbage For

Now that your head of cabbage is prepped and shredded, you can continue to use it as an ingredient in a wide range of recipes. Take your healthy shreds and make something delicious. Shredded cabbage is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. Here are some popular ways to use shredded cabbage:

Coleslaw: Coleslaw is a classic dish made with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing. It’s a popular side dish for barbecues, picnics, and sandwiches.
Sauerkraut: Shredded cabbage is fermented with salt to make sauerkraut. It’s a traditional condiment that adds tangy flavor to sandwiches, hot dogs, and sausages.
Stir-Fries: Add shredded cabbage to stir-fry dishes. It cooks quickly and adds a crunchy texture to the stir-fry. It pairs well with various proteins and stir-fry sauces.
Soups and Stews: Shredded cabbage can be added to soups and stews for extra bulk and nutrition. It’s commonly used in cabbage soup and various European and Asian soup recipes.
Tacos and Tostadas: Shredded cabbage can be used as a topping for tacos and tostadas. It adds a fresh crunch and pairs well with a variety of fillings.
Salads: Incorporate shredded cabbage into green salads or grain-based salads. It adds a unique texture and a mild, slightly peppery flavor.
Spring Rolls: Shredded cabbage is a common ingredient in spring rolls and fresh rolls. It provides a crisp, refreshing element to these dishes.
Sandwiches and Wraps: Use shredded cabbage in sandwiches and wraps to add a layer of crunch and freshness. It works well in both cold and hot sandwiches.
Cabbage Rolls: Make stuffed cabbage rolls by wrapping ground meat or vegetarian fillings in cabbage leaves. Shredded cabbage can also be used as a filling.
Braised Dishes: Shredded cabbage can be braised in broth or sauce, often with additional vegetables and protein. It becomes tender and flavorful when cooked this way.
Kimchi: Shredded cabbage is a key ingredient in kimchi, a spicy fermented Korean side dish. Kimchi can be used as a condiment, a side dish, or an ingredient in various Korean dishes.
Fried Rice: Add shredded cabbage to fried rice for extra texture and flavor. It’s a common ingredient in many Asian-style fried rice recipes.
Cabbage Chips: Similar to kale chips, you can make cabbage chips by baking shredded cabbage with olive oil and seasonings until they’re crispy and snack-worthy.
Egg Rolls: Shredded cabbage is a classic filling for egg rolls. It’s combined with other vegetables, protein, and seasonings, then wrapped in a thin pastry and fried until crispy.
Pickled Cabbage: Make a quick pickle by marinating shredded cabbage in vinegar, sugar, and seasonings. It’s a great accompaniment to sandwiches and burgers.

Shredded cabbage is not only versatile but also nutritious, as it’s a good source of dietary fiber and various vitamins and minerals. It can add texture, flavor, and visual appeal to many dishes, making it a staple in many cuisines worldwide.

Why Eat Cabbage Anyway?

Eating cabbage offers numerous health benefits, making it a nutritious addition to your diet. Here are some reasons why you should consider including cabbage in your meals:

Nutrient-Rich: Cabbage is low in calories but packed with essential nutrients. It’s a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, and potassium.
Rich in Fiber: Cabbage is high in dietary fiber, which is important for digestive health. It aids in regular bowel movements, prevents constipation, and supports a healthy gut.
Antioxidant Properties: Cabbage contains antioxidants like vitamin C and flavonoids that help protect your cells from oxidative stress and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
Cancer Prevention: Some studies suggest that compounds in cabbage, such as sulforaphane, may have cancer-fighting properties and could help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Heart Health: The fiber, potassium, and phytonutrients in cabbage contribute to heart health. They help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and support overall cardiovascular well-being.
Weight Management: Cabbage is low in calories and high in fiber, making it a great choice for those looking to manage their weight. It provides a feeling of fullness, reducing the likelihood of overeating.
Bone Health: Cabbage is a good source of vitamin K, which is essential for bone health and plays a role in calcium absorption and bone mineralization.
Anti-Inflammatory: Cabbage contains anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce inflammation in the body, potentially benefiting conditions like arthritis.
Digestive Aid: The fiber in cabbage supports a healthy digestive system and may help prevent digestive issues like diverticulosis and constipation.
Skin Health: The vitamin C in cabbage is crucial for collagen production, which helps maintain healthy skin. It can also improve skin elasticity and reduce signs of aging.
Low in Calories: If you’re watching your calorie intake, cabbage is a great choice. It’s a filling food that can help you feel satisfied without consuming excessive calories.
Versatile Ingredient: Cabbage is versatile and can be used in a wide range of dishes, from salads and stir-fries to soups and fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
Budget-Friendly: Cabbage is typically an affordable vegetable, making it an accessible option for people on a budget.

To reap the benefits that cabbage has to offer, consider including it in your regular diet by adding it to salads, stir-fries, soups, or enjoying it as a side dish. Its versatility and nutritional value make it an excellent choice for maintaining overall health and well-being.