How To Cut Cabbage

Equipment

• Cutting Board: You will want a large cutting board to cut the cabbage. Make sure to place a damp towel or square of sticky shelf liner under your cutting board to keep it from slipping as you cut.
• Large Sharp Knife: I recommend using a Chef’s knife for cutting cabbage.
• Mandoline: Alternatively you can use a mandoline to slice the cabbage (this makes very nice thin shreds that are perfect for slaw.) But if you do use a mandoline you will want to use a cut proof glove and use the hand shield too as they can be dangerous!

How Much Cabbage Does One Head Yield?

This varies depending on the size of your head of cabbage. We found that a 2-pound head yields about 8 to 9 cups of finely shredded or chopped cabbage.

Varieties Of Cabbage

As we discuss in our Comprehensive Guide To Cabbage, there are many varieties of cabbage. Common types you can find at most supermarkets in North America are:

• Green and Red Cabbage
• Savoy cabbage
• Napa Cabbage and Chinese Cabbage

The below tutorial is an effective way to chop any of these varieties of cabbage. Note the exception for cutting Napa Cabbage below.

Step-By-Step Instructions For How To Cut Cabbage

First, remove any loose or discolored outer leaves and trim the stem-end if necessary. Then cut the cabbage into quarters through the stem.

Next, remove the core from each wedge of cabbage by slicing a diagonal wedge from each.

After the core is removed, you can cut the wedges in half again to make them more manageable for slicing.

Next, lay each wedge, cut side down (for stability) and then thinly slice through into fine strips.

For Napa Cabbage

For Napa Cabbage (above) or Chinese Cabbage, you’ll want to do basically the same thing with one exception.

After the core is removed, and the wedges cut into smaller section to make them easier to cut, take half of the wedge, and pull half off the leaves into two separate stacks so the leaves lay flat. Press them down (rib side up) into a flat stack as you cut. See photo below.