Refrigerate the cabbage in a plastic bag for up to a week. Only rinse the cabbage once you’re ready to use it.
The black spots may be just blemishes, but it’s not worth risking it only for a few extra leaves of cabbage.
Some cabbages come “pre-washed,” but it’s always a good idea to give your veggies another rinse once you get them home.
If you’re making something like a lettuce cup or wrap, just halve the cabbage but don’t quarter it. You’ll still want to make the “v” cut to remove the stem. [7] X Research source Set the cabbages cut-side down after you halve them to make them stable. Napa cabbages are oblong, so remember to cut down the length rather than making a short cut across the middle.
Kimchi is a process of brining, seasoning, and fermenting various vegetables. Cabbage is a super popular kimchi ingredient, but you can make it out of other veggies, too![9] X Research source
The smaller the pieces of cabbage, the less time it will take for them to cook through. If you include other veggies in your stir-fry, try to make them all the same size so they cook through at the same rate.
Take your time shredding the cabbage! If this is new for you, it can take a little while to get a feel for it, and the last thing you want is to cut your fingers accidentally.
“Minced” cabbage is as small as you can get it. Think slightly larger than a grain of rice. [13] X Research source You could even use a food processor to finely mince your cabbage. Just choose a large grating disk, so it doesn’t lose its consistency or get too wet.
You can usually find bok choy at your local grocery store. If not, check out an Asian grocery. [15] X Research source Store the bok choy in your fridge for up to 1 week in a plastic bag. Wait to rinse the bok choy until right before you’re ready to use it. [16] X Research source
Keep your fingers out of the way of the knife!
If you want, toss the base into the compost or use it along with other veggie scraps to make a batch of stock later.
Pay special attention to the base of the leaves. Because these cabbages grow low to the ground, there’s often a lot of dirt there. You use a bowl to rinse bok choy because the leaves are all different sizes and fall away from each other easily. The bowl keeps anything from falling into the sink.
Use bok choy in soups and stir-frys for added flavor and texture. [22] X Research source Enjoy bok choy raw in a salad. [23] X Research source Try steaming the bok choy for 5 minutes to soften it for a nutrient-filled side dish. [24] X Research source