Cooking Cabbage for Cabbage Rolls in the Microwave: Step-by-Step Instructions 0 6

Why using a microwave is preferable to boiling water

Cooking cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave allows you to gently heat the head, making it easy to separate the leaves. You won’t have to deal with boiling water and the hassle of carefully removing fragile leaves or boiling the head. It takes almost half the time. The cabbage leaves in the microwave become soft and remain intact.

Which cabbage is best for microwave cooking

Of course, a large head won’t fit in the microwave. Therefore, it’s best to choose smaller heads that fit easily. But you can also make the cabbage rolls small and neat, just two bites each.

If one head is not enough, you can cook two or more in the microwave sequentially; in any case, it will be much faster than boiling cabbage in water and then removing the leaves.

How to prepare cabbage for the microwave

Preparing cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave requires minimal preparation.

Cabbage rolls can be made from any type of cabbage. Young cabbage has thinner and softer leaves. In my opinion, the autumn harvest is the tastiest, especially if you choose a variety with thin leaves. The main thing is that the cabbage is fresh, with firm and shiny heads. Wilted and dried cabbage will not make tasty rolls. You can use not only white cabbage but also Napa or Savoy cabbage. Young varieties of white, Napa, and Savoy cabbage require less time to soften the leaves than more mature ones.

You need to remove the outer leaves, which are usually wilted and dirty, and rinse the cabbage under running water. Make sure there are no spoiled or rotten leaves, as well as insects among the cabbage leaves. Be sure to rinse the cabbage under running water. Carefully cut the core from all sides with a knife and remove it.

How and how long to cook cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave

Place the prepared head of cabbage in a microwave-safe dish (plate or bowl) — ceramic, glass, or paper.

For better “steaming” of the cabbage, you can use a baking bag. Don’t forget to make a few holes! Do not wrap it in plastic wrap, as it comes into contact with the food and releases toxic substances when heated.

Place the container with the cabbage in the microwave. At a medium power of 1000 watts, a dense head weighing about 1.5 kg will be ready for leaf removal in 12–15 minutes. Note that the lower the power, the longer the time required.

After the microwave finishes, leave the cabbage inside for another 5 minutes before taking it out. Keep in mind that the cabbage is hot! Therefore, be sure to use oven mitts.

How to properly separate leaves from cabbage cooked in the microwave

Start carefully removing the leaves. They will be soft and pliable. Gently cut the tough stem with a knife.

Softening the leaves for cabbage rolls in the microwave is the fastest and most effective method of all that I have tried.

If the cabbage is not fully heated and some leaves remain crunchy, just put the head in the microwave again.

How to cook cabbage leaves in the microwave separately?

If it’s not practical to cook the whole head of cabbage in the microwave, you can cook only the leaves — as many as you need. Remove the required number of leaves and place them in the microwave. They will cook faster than a whole head. For a dozen separated leaves, it will take 4–5 minutes at maximum power.

How to prepare Napa cabbage for cabbage rolls in the microwave

If you plan to make cabbage rolls from Napa cabbage, which is also very tasty, you can, of course, dip the leaves in boiling water. But then why use the microwave? Kitchen appliances should be used as efficiently as possible, including for preparing leaves for cabbage rolls!

To prepare Napa cabbage leaves, separate the required number of leaves and cut off the thick part of the stem.

Place the leaves in a baking bag, make a few holes. Cook Napa cabbage leaves in the microwave for 5 minutes at medium power.