Features, advantages and disadvantages of storing cabbage in cling film

Cabbage is filling and healthy, but it’s quite difficult to use more than one forkful at a time.

The problem of extending the shelf life of a product is faced by housewives who bought a head of cabbage that is too large and gardeners who have reaped an impressive harvest.

If you just put vegetables in the refrigerator, they will quickly become moldy, and there is not much space in it. In such cases, polyethylene comes to the rescue.

Read the article about whether and how to properly store fresh cabbage in cling film.

Can it be stored?

Store cabbage in cling film you can, but this method is not always applicable. For example, this method is not suitable for long-term storage.

If the product is left in stretch for more than 4 months, it will begin to deteriorate.

Both whole and cut forks are wrapped in polyethylene. Halves are used first, since violation of the integrity of the vegetable leads to the settling of microbes on its surface.

Therefore, after 10-15 days it will begin to deteriorate. Whole heads of cabbage last longer.

Advantages and disadvantages

Storing cabbage in cling film has its advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of the method include:

1. Retains moisture inside the fork. Its leaves are more than 90% water. Its loss is disastrous for the vegetable, but thanks to the stretch it does not dry out, since contact with oxygen is minimized.
2. Ease of use. The process of wrapping the fork in polyethylene will not take longer than 5 minutes.
3. Availability of the method. There will be no problems purchasing cling film.It is sold in any hardware store and is very cheap (around 50 rubles per roll).

This method has several disadvantages, including:

1. Short shelf life. If the fork has already been cut, then it will lie under the film for no more than 2 weeks.
2. The need for regular monitoring. Whole cabbage wrapped in plastic should be inspected at least once a month. The accumulation of condensation is a sure way for bacteria to multiply.
3. Possibility of storing only “ideal” medium-sized heads of cabbage. The presence of even one small defect will lead to spoilage of the vegetable.

Preparing fresh vegetables

Before wrapping a vegetable in film, you need to prepare it properly. Basic moments:

1. Examine the head of cabbage from all sides. There should be no visible defects or infected areas. Even clean cracks without signs of rot are a reason to refuse to use film.
2. Evaluate the structure of the cabbage. Elastic heads of cabbage are removed for long-term storage. All leaves should fit tightly to each other. Loose specimens are not wrapped in film.
3. Estimate the size of the heads of cabbage. Medium-sized forks are suitable for long-term storage.
4. Using a sharp knife, cut off the stem of the cabbage. The cut must be made as close to the base as possible.
5. Rinse the forks under running cool water to remove dust, soil and bacteria.
6. Let the vegetables dry. The cabbage should lie in the fresh air for at least an hour.
7. Cool it to storage temperature. If the cabbage is lowered into the cellar, then it is left there for a day. Only after this is it wrapped in stretch.

In the cellar and refrigerator

The product can be stored in cling film in the refrigerator and in the cellar. Features to pay attention to:

• To keep cabbage well, just wrap it in 4 layers of film;
• the material should be pressed as tightly as possible to the surface of the vegetable - this rule is especially true for cut heads of cabbage;
• in the refrigerator, the forks are placed in a vegetable drawer or on a regular shelf; whole heads of cabbage can remain fresh for up to 4 months;
• In the cellar, the cabbage wrapped in film is placed in boxes; in this form it can be stored for 3-4 months.

The freezer is not suitable for storing forks. You can only freeze processed cabbage, for example, stewed or sauerkraut.

He will tell you how to properly store cabbage in the refrigerator. this article about storage in the cellar - this. Read about how to freeze stewed cabbage Here.

Reviews

People who have stored cabbage in cling film leave different reviews about this method. Most of them indicate that vegetables in polyethylene become moldy. This happens when it is in the film for a long time.

Some tried to sprinkle the cabbage with flour before placing it in cellophane, but this did not prevent the fungus from growing.

Helpful information

Tips for storing cabbage in film:

1. To simplify your task, you need to acquire a film whose width is 35-45 cm. If its size is larger or smaller, it will be inconvenient to wrap the heads of cabbage.
2. If a large amount of moisture has formed inside, the film must be removed, the forks dried, inspected for damage and wrapped in a new layer of polyethylene.
3. Fresh cabbage cannot be frozen. After cooling it becomes soft and tasteless. It is impossible to eat it fresh, but when cooked, it quickly boils over.
4. A unique microclimate is formed under the film, which is not recommended to be disturbed. If there are no signs of spoilage and there is not too much moisture inside, the cabbage is not unwrapped.

Video on the topic

This video will tell you about storing cabbage in cling film:

Conclusion

You can store cabbage in cling film. With the right approach, whole forks can stay fresh for up to 4 months, and cut ones for up to 2 weeks. The main thing is that the air temperature does not exceed +1 degree.