Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Dehydrating Purple Cabbage

Purple Cabbage
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Head of purple cabbage
        I harvested a lot of purple cabbage from our garden this year and it was just too much to eat it all so I decided to preserve by dehydrating it.  Yes, some people call it red cabbage but since it is purple, I call it purple cabbage. 
       Purple cabbage is so good dehydrated.  It not only preserves the cabbage and its shelf life but dehydrated cabbage makes a great snack.  Each little flake just explodes with flavor and it smells incredible.  It rehydrates easily, cooks well and is so easy to store.  To me, dehydrated cabbage is a must for any kitchen!
        Purple cabbage is low in calories.  It also is a vitamin powerhouse being a great source of Vitamin A, Vitamin K, and Folate.  It also a great source of Potassium and is a good source of Calcium (80% of your RDA), Phosphorous and the trace minerals Selenium, Zinc, and Manganese.  It also contains Omega 6 fatty acids.  They have glucosinolates in them also which are a natural anti-inflammatory substance that are key to good health.
           Be sure to not boil the cabbage when you use it.  When you boil it the water will sap out the nutrients.  Sautéing it is the best way to use it and will be usable for most dishes this way. 
How to dehydrate Purple Cabbage
       It is super easy to dehydrate.  Just pull off the outer leaves and discard.   
 
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Head of purple cabbage
Stem and core the cabbage. 
 
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Cabbage after the stem was removed.  Still need to core it.
 Rinse the cabbage and begin slicing it up as you would if you were making coleslaw.   
 
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Sliced cabbage.
Now, put the cabbage on your dehydrator tray. Turn on the dehydrator to 125 degrees.  Let it dry for about 8-10 hours.  I generally just turn on my dehydrator when I go to bed and it is done in the morning.  When done, the cabbage will be brittle to the touch.  
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Dehydrated cabbage.

     Store your dehydrated cabbage in a mason jar.
Uses for red cabbage, purple cabbage, dehydrating cabbage, preserving the harvest, uses for dried cabbage, uses for dehydrated cabbage
Jar full of dehydrated cabbage.
 How to use dehydrated cabbage
       There are many uses for dehydrated cabbage.  It rehydrates very quickly and if your recipe contains plenty of liquid, you don’t even have to rehydrate it before adding it in.  I toss mine into casseroles, soups and stews.  They add some lovely color, nutrition, flavor and texture to soups and stews.  If you plan on making a coleslaw, just soak the dried cabbage in warm water for about 10 minutes and then strain and use it as you would use fresh cabbage. 
            Animals love dehydrated cabbage too.  We feed some to our dogs and our goats as a treat and they can’t seem to get enough of them.  Dry some today and you will love it as much as we do!
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2 comments:

  1. How long will the cabbage last dehydrated?

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    Replies
    1. It should last a year in a sealed mason jar. If you want to keep it longer, add in an oxygen absorber and it will last 5-7 years like this.

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