Red Cabbage: How to Check for Bugs

Red (or Purple) Cabbage is sometimes infested. Must be checked. Note that there is a different procedure for checking White and Green Cabbage.

How to check red cabbage

The manner of checking cabbage depends upon how the cabbage will be used.

Cabbage which will be used for cooking or pickling or stuffing

1. Remove the four outer leaves and discard them.

2. Check the outside of the head. If there is a hole that penetrates into the head, cut around the hole into the depth of the head as far as the hole penetrates.

3. Freeze the head of cabbage in a freezer for at least forty-eight hours.

4. Remove the head of cabbage from the freezer and let it defrost.

5. Direct a stream of water at the leaves, on both sides, making sure to cover every spot.

Once this is done properly, no checking is necessary. However, the first few times doing this, one should check the cabbage, to see if the process was done properly. The checking should be done with a light box.

Cabbage which will be used for salad

Since cabbage that is frozen cannot be used for salad, a method which is different than the one that is recommended above (for cooking, pickling or stuffing) must be used.

1. Remove and discard the outer four leaves.

2. Quarter the head of cabbage. The purpose of this is to make separation of the leaves easier.

3. Remove each leaf from the head.

4. Direct a stream of water at each leaf, on both sides, making sure that every spot is covered. Any folds in the leaves should be opened as this is being done.

Once this is done properly, no checking is necessary. However, the first few times doing this, one should check the cabbage, to see if the process was done properly. The checking should be done with a light box.