How To Cut Cabbage
Learn how to cut cabbage into squares with step by step photos for recipes like Haluski and Corned Beef and Cabbage.
As I was making my Corned Beef and Cabbage On Stove Top, I decided to shoot a tutorial on how to cut cabbage into squares.
This isn’t my typical recipe post, but I do get asked a lot about how to chop cabbage.
Cabbage is one of those vegetables I love eating, but it’s so annoying to buy and chop.
First, there is no such thing as a small cabbage. The “smallest” head is about 2 pounds. When you’re cooking for two, that’s enough cabbage to last all week!
Once in awhile, a local farm will halve cabbage heads, wrap each piece into plastic wrap, then sell the halves. However, this isn’t common practice so I try not to rely on it.
Then you have to cut the cabbage. It’s actually easy to chop cabbage once you know where to cut, but it’s not intuitive.
That’s why I took step by step photos to show you how to chop cabbage into squares (or at least as square as cabbage can be).
This is the cut I use for my corned beef and cabbage as well as my Haluski and Stuffed Cabbage Soup.
This guide focuses solely on green cabbage, but you can use this same technique for red cabbage as well.
Chopping Cabbage Ahead Of Time
I prefer cutting up a whole head of cabbage all at once, dividing the chopped cabbage into 3-4 serving containers, then refrigerating until ready to cook.
That way my prep is done for the week (or even 2 weeks!). All I have to do now is grab and dump.
Bonus tip – I do the same thing with onion. It’s so much easier to cook when your onion is all ready to go.
How To Cut Cabbage
Step 1: First, cut the cabbage down the middle, splitting it into two equal halves.
Step 2: Next, place each half flat side down and cut down the middle. You should now have 4 quarters.
Step 3: Locate the stem for each quarter. This is called the core. Cut off the core because you don’t want to eat this part.
Step 4: Now place each quarter flat side down. Cut it into slices.
Step 5: Finally, cut the slices into squares, much like you would with dicing a carrot.
Now that you have enough chopped cabbage to last all week, check out my recipes for what to do with leftover cabbage.
How To Cut Cabbage
Learn how to cut cabbage into squares with step by step photos for recipes like Haluski and Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Ingredients
- 1 head green cabbage
Instructions
- Cut the cabbage down the middle, splitting it into two equal halves.
- Place each half flat side down and cut down the
middle. You should now have 4 quarters. - Locate the stem for each quarter. This is called the core.
Cut off the core because you don't want to eat this part - Place each quarter flat side down. Cut it into slices.
- Cut the slices into squares, much like you would
with dicing a carrot.
Notes
- Now that you cut your cabbage, you're ready for dinner! Check out my recipes for haluski, stove top corned beef and cabbage, and stuffed cabbage soup.
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I’m so glad you put this post out. I have always cut out the core first and then cut into halves.
Hopefully this makes it easier for you now!
🙏 thank you! A life saver, yes!
Happy to help!
When do you wash it? First thing, after halving or after it’s all chopped?
Wash it first thing before cutting.
Thank you, I’ve not been sure how to cut up a Cabbage, so I’ve been throwing away some of the best parts
Glad you enjoyed the tutorial!
With the cabbage I purchased this week, I was not able to cut through the middle and I did not choose the largest cabbage.
What to do next time. I do have a good knife.
Hmm it sounds like your knife needs to be sharpened. You can get it done professionally or buy a sharpening block. That would be my guess.
Thank you…
It’s a large new knife. Sharpening is not the problem… And I should be sufficiently strong enough to do this…
Oh well…
Thank you.
Had to read your comment several times. You get annoyed purchasing and chopping cabbage?
With metta
Yes. If you continued reading after that comment, I explained why.
Good morning.
Read it for the 3rd time and cannot find it. I was not being snarky.
You are an excellent chopper, thanks for the tips.
With metta
K~
Copied from my post:
“Cabbage is one of those vegetables I love eating, but it’s so annoying to buy and chop. First, there is no such thing as a small cabbage. The “smallest” head is about 2 pounds. When you’re cooking for two, that’s enough cabbage to last all week!”
When you cook for yourself, it is annoying to buy a 2+ pound head of cabbage.
“Then you have to cut the cabbage. It’s actually easy to chop cabbage once you know where to cut, but it’s not intuitive.”
If you don’t know how to cut cabbage, cutting cabbage can be a daunting and annoying task.
Sometimes, when the cabbage is large and/ or difficult to cut I use an Asian Clever. Also blanch your unused cabbage and freeze if the head is too large for your current recipe. You prep work for the next recipe will. Have a head start.
Great tips!