CA
Cabbage
KAB-ij • dense leafy head (brassica oleracea)
🟢 Non-Climacteric (Vine Only)
🛡 Low Ethylene
How to Tell if Cabbage is Ripe
Store CheckCabbage is a non-climacteric fruit and does NOT ripen after being picked. It will only soften or rot. Buy it ready to eat.
👁 Visual Checks
- Look for uniform color without green under-tones
- Check for matte/dull skin rather than shiny plastic finish
- Look for natural sugar spots or field marks
✋ Tactile & Aroma
- Heft: Should feel heavy for its size (indicates juice content)
- Give: Slight yield under gentle palm pressure, never thumb poking
- Aroma: Fragrant sweet smell at the stem end
How to Store Cabbage
Optimal Spot
fridge
Shelf Life (Ripe)
21–60 Days
Ethylene Sensitivity
High (Isolate)
Storage Protocol: Store immediately in the refrigerator crisper drawer. Keep away from high ethylene emitters like bananas and apples.
Peak Seasonality & Harvest Geography
USDA / AMS Verified
Abundantly available year-round. Peak harvest for sweet, crisp heads occurs in autumn and winter through the first hard frosts.
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Global Growing Geography:
Cool-temperate and maritime regions globally, led by China, India, Russia, Poland, the US, and Germany
Common Varieties & PLU Codes
| Variety Name | PLU Codes | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Green Cabbage | 4069, 3075 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Red / Purple Cabbage | 4554, 3076 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
| Savoy Cabbage | 4555 | Standard commercial supermarket cultivar |
Kitchen Pairings & Chef Hacks
Flavor Pairings
Apple Cider VinegarMustardBaconCaraway SeedsGarlicButterDill
Chef Hacks & Prep Tricks
💡 Diagonal Core Cut: Quarter the cabbage head lengthwise through the stem, stand each wedge on its flat side, and make one angled downward slice to remove the triangular core instantly.
💡 Salt Massage for Slaw: Toss shredded cabbage with 1 tsp salt and massage firmly with your hands for 2 minutes; this draws out excess moisture so coleslaw stays crisp for days without watery puddles.
Pocket Encyclopedia
Never buy under-ripe fruit again.
Carry tactile ripeness indicators, PLU barcode decoders, seasonal radar, and ethylene storage charts offline in your pocket.
Download for iOS ↗Compare Head-to-Head
Compare sweetness, sugar content, and glycemic indicators against other fruits.