How long does cabbage last?

Checked 24 Oct 20264 official publishers, 6 sources

Fresh: 1-2 weeks in the fridge and 10-12 months in the freezer for best quality.

Storage times for cabbage by state and place
StateFridge 40 °FFreezer 0 °F
Fresh 1-2 weeks FoodKeeper Extension 10-12 months best quality FoodKeeper Extension
Times assume continuous refrigeration at 40 °F or below. When in doubt, throw it out. Freezer times are for quality: “Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.” FDA

Sources compared

SourceStateFridgeFreezer
USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper) 2018Fresh1-2 weeks10-12 months
Nebraska ExtensionFresh1-2 weeks10-12 months

A dash means that source gives no time for that place.

Handling and freezing notes

  • “Frozen cabbage or Chinese cabbage are suitable for use only as a cooked vegetable.” Extension
  • “Cut into medium to coarse shreds or thin wedges, or separate head into leaves. Water blanch 1½ minutes.” Extension
  • “Cabbage*, celery, cress, cucumbers*, endive, lettuce, parsley, radishes As raw salad Limp, water-logged,quickly develops oxidized color, aroma and flavor” Extension
  • “cabbage can be frozen as marinated products such as "freezer slaw" ... These do not have the same texture as regular slaw” Extension
  • “Avoid freezing hard-cooked egg whites (toughens them), lettuce and cabbage (becomes limp), mayonnaise (separates).” Extension
  • “Cabbage fresh ventilated box 32°F moderately moist pit or cellar 6 months” Extension

What the sources say

FoodKeeper and the Nebraska Extension chart agree on fresh cabbage: 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator and 10 to 12 months in the freezer.12

Neither gives a pantry time for cabbage, and FoodKeeper counts its refrigerator time from the date of purchase.12

The National Center for Home Food Preservation says frozen cabbage is suitable only as a cooked vegetable.3

Its method cuts the head into medium to coarse shreds or thin wedges, or separates it into leaves, and water blanches the pieces for 1½ minutes.3

On its list of foods that do not freeze well, cabbage meant for raw salad turns limp and water-logged and quickly develops an oxidized color, aroma and flavor.4

The same page notes that cabbage can be frozen as a marinated product such as freezer slaw, though it will not have the texture of regular slaw.4

Nebraska Extension gives similar advice for leftovers, listing lettuce and cabbage among the foods to avoid freezing because they become limp.5

Utah State University Extension lists 6 months for fresh cabbage kept in a ventilated box in a moderately moist pit or cellar at 32 °F.6

Rules that apply here

Freezing and refreezingFridge and freezer temperature
CeleryOnionsPotatoes

Sources

  1. USDA FoodKeeper data v128, product 278: Cabbage. USDA FSIS (FoodKeeper). Dated 2018-09-06. Checked 2026-10-24. Cabbage. DOP_Refrigerate: 1-2 Weeks; DOP_Freeze: 10-12 Months
  2. Home Food Storage | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cabbage - 1 to 2 weeks 10 to 12 months (freezing cabbage)
  3. Freezing Cabbage or Chinese Cabbage - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Frozen cabbage or Chinese cabbage are suitable for use only as a cooked vegetable.Cut into medium to coarse shreds or thin wedges, or separate head into leaves. Water blanch 1½ minutes.
  4. Foods That Do Not Freeze Well - National Center for Home Food Preservation. National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia). No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cabbage*, celery, cress, cucumbers*, endive, lettuce, parsley, radishes As raw salad Limp, water-logged,quickly develops oxidized color, aroma and flavorcabbage can be frozen as marinated products such as "freezer slaw" ... These do not have the same texture as regular slaw
  5. Leftover Food Safety | UNL Food | Nebraska. Nebraska Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Avoid freezing hard-cooked egg whites (toughens them), lettuce and cabbage (becomes limp), mayonnaise (separates).
  6. Food Storage in Home | USU. Utah State University Extension. No date on the page. Checked 2026-10-24. Cabbage fresh ventilated box 32°F moderately moist pit or cellar 6 months
  7. REFRIGERATOR & FREEZER STORAGE CHART. FDA. Dated 2018-03-01. Checked 2026-10-24. Because freezing 0° F (-18° C) keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended storage times are for quality only.