Articles · Using things up
What to do with half a cabbage
Half a cabbage sits in the drawer until it does not. Here is how to use it this week, not eventually.
A cabbage is the vegetable most likely to outlive your good intentions. It keeps for weeks, which is exactly why it gets left: there is never any urgency, until suddenly there is.
Shred it raw
The fastest thing you can do is slice it thin and dress it while the pan heats. Salt, something acidic, a little oil. It softens on its own while you cook whatever else you are having, and it turns a plate of leftovers into a meal.
Or let the pan do the work
Cabbage browns far better than people expect. Cut it into thick wedges, get the cut faces down in a hot pan, and then leave them alone until they are properly dark. That patience is the entire recipe.
It keeps longer than you think
A cut half, wrapped, is good for a week or more in the fridge. If the outer layer looks tired, peel it off; what is underneath is usually fine.