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Savoring The Good > Cooking Lessons

How to remove cabbage leaves without tearing.

A woman with long brown hair wearing a light-colored blouse smiles at the camera in a softly lit indoor setting, offering a welcoming glimpse into the post author's personality.Sarah Mock headshot 100by100.
Updated: Feb 20, 2024 to include new step-by-step photos, clarified instructions, and/or improved tips for best results.· by Sarah Mock· Leave a Comment This post contains affiliate links.

Nothing is more frustrating when you are making stuffed cabbage rolls than when your cabbage leaves tear to shreds before you can roll them. Here are easy step by step instructions on how to remove cabbage leaves from a head of cabbage with out tearing them.

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steamed cabbage leaves on a tray

You will get a perfect cabbage leaf cup every time. 

How to remove cabbage leaves without tearing

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a heavy pinch of salt to to the water.
  2. Remove any damaged outer leaves from the outside of a head of cabbage and insert a skewer or fork into the core.
    head of cabbage in a pot of boiling water.
  3. Dunk the cabbage in the simmering/boiling salted water for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  4. Remove from the simmering water and place on a cooling rack placed on a cookie sheet.
  5. Use a small paring knife to slice the stem of the leaf away from the core of the cabbage.
  6. Remove the loosened cabbage leaf from the rest of the head.
  7. Repeat with each layer of the cabbage.
head of cabbage in a pot of boiling water.

How to remove cabbage leaves without tearing

Sarah Mock, savoring a glass of red wine, smiles warmly indoors near a staircase. With her long brown hair and light blouse, she exudes relaxed elegance in this candid headshot.Sarah Mock
How to remove cabbage leaves from a head of cabbage with out tearing them.
You will get a perfect cabbage leaf cup every time. 
4.41 from 5 votes
How to remove cabbage leaves without tearing
prep timePrep 10 minutes minutes
cook timeCook 10 minutes minutes
total timeTotal 20 minutes minutes
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Instructions
 

  • Bring water to a boil.
  • Insert a skewer or fork into the core of the cabbage.
  • Dunk the cabbage in the simmering/boiling salted water.
  • Remove from the simmering water.
  • Slice the stem of the leaf away from the core of the cabbage.
  • Remove the loosened cabbage leaf.
  • Repeat with each layer of the cabbage.

Notes

 
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Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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