Microwaving Cabbage
Avoid a stovetop mess—microwaving softens tough cabbage leaves, allowing them to be easily removed.
Avoid a stovetop mess—microwaving softens tough cabbage leaves, allowing them to be easily removed.
Removing leaves from a tightly packed head of cabbage is no easy feat. The most common method is to float the whole head in a vat of boiling water—a messy, cumbersome project with mixed results at best. We found the microwave a much better tool. Microwaving makes the cabbage leaves soft and pliable, not soggy and overcooked. To prepare the cabbage, cut out the core, place the head in a large, microwave-safe bowl, cover with plastic, and cook on high power until the leaves become pliable and can be easily removed.