How to Cook Cabbage So It’s Less Gassy – Taste of Home (2024)

Updated: Dec. 04, 2023

Discover four ways to reduce your discomfort while enjoying this cruciferous veggie.

Let’s cut right to the chase: Does cabbage give you gas? If so, you aren’t alone—this cruciferous vegetable has been known to make plenty of people toot! And while it’s great that cabbage varieties help keep your digestive system humming along, gas and bloating aren’t exactly the desired outcome to enjoying such yummy dishes as Southern Fried Cabbage with Bacon or hearty cabbage steaks.

But don’t despair, you (and your intestinal tract) will be happy to know there are several ways to cook cabbage so it’s less gas-inducing.

Why Does Cabbage Give You Gas?

“The high fiber content is one piece of the picture,” says registered dietitian Jessica Cording, MS, RD, CDN. “Additionally, cruciferous vegetables—like cabbage, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts—contain raffinose, an indigestible sugar. As it’s fermented by bacteria in the gut, gas is produced, which is why you may experience flatulence and discomfort after eating these foods. They also are sources of sulfur-containing glucosinolates, plant compounds noted for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Because of that sulfur content, gas produced when we eat cruciferous foods can have a very distinct odor.”

One way to cut down on some of the gas-producing effects is to choose cooked cabbage over raw. “Generally speaking, cooking can help reduce this effect by ‘softening’ the fiber, making it a little bit easier on the digestive system,” explains Cording. She added that cooking the cabbage also helps reduce the amount of sulfur in the veggie, which can help with the odor.

How to Cook Cabbage So It Doesn’t Make You Gassy

It’s time to stop Googling “does cabbage give you gas” and start looking for a solution to enjoying your cruciferous veggies without the unpleasant side effects. Cording suggests preparing it one of these four ways:

Ferment it

Fermenting foods can help make them easier to digest—and homemade sauerkraut is also surprisingly easy. It’s important to shred the cabbage well, and then you can get creative with different herbs and spices.

Boil it

In general, cooking makes vegetables easier to digest, which can help reduce gas. To retain the nutrients in the cabbage that would be lost when you drain the water, try cabbage soup or Mexican cabbage roll soup. You can add other vegetables, tomatoes and a protein source (like beans, lentils or chicken) for a more filling meal.

Roast it

In addition to helping improve digestibility, roasting will bring out a natural sweetness as the sugars in the cabbage caramelize. Try Roasted Cabbage and Onions for a satisfying side dish.

Add herbs

Adding the right herbs can also help ease digestion. A few of Cording’s favorites that pair particularly well with cabbage include ginger and turmeric.

Also, check these amazingcoleslaw mix recipeto make for the dinner.

Should You Add Baking Soda to Boiled Cabbage?

Cording says this can help reduce the odor produced during cooking and help maintain the green color. However, she doesn’t recommend this, as it may also reduce the nutritional value of the cabbage.

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How to Cook Cabbage So It’s Less Gassy – Taste of Home (2024)

FAQs

How to Cook Cabbage So It’s Less Gassy – Taste of Home? ›

Boil it. In general, cooking makes vegetables easier to digest, which can help reduce gas. To retain the nutrients in the cabbage that would be lost when you drain the water, try cabbage soup or Mexican cabbage roll soup.

How to cook cabbage so it doesn't give you gas? ›

To reduce the likelihood of experiencing gas after eating cabbage, consider cooking it thoroughly. This can help break down the fibers and make it easier to digest. Additionally, try adding caraway seeds or fennel seeds to your cabbage dishes, as these spices are known to help reduce gas.

How do you cook cabbage without it smelling in the house? ›

Allies against cabbage odors

For steaming or cooking in a pressure cooker, the most effective way to dampen the bad smell is to add a few bay leaves, a tablespoon of white vinegar or milk to the water. Or even a tablespoon of capers will work too.

Why do you put baking soda in cabbage? ›

Baking soda does help green vegetables retain color, but it causes undesirable color changes in red cabbage—it turned blue. The science can be distilled to this: Adding baking soda to cooking water makes it slightly alkaline, which stabilizes the green color of chlorophyll.

What gas is released when cabbage is boiled? ›

Cooked cabbage is often criticized for its pungent, unpleasant odor and taste. These develop when cabbage is overcooked and hydrogen sulfide gas is produced.

Why do you put vinegar in cabbage when boiling it? ›

Green is the heartiest variety; it takes well to all cooking methods. Red can turn a funny blue color when cooked, so it's best used raw. If you do want to cook it, add a touch of acid like lemon juice or vinegar to lessen the effect. Savoy can be used in any recipe that calls for green cabbage.

Why do you soak cabbage before cooking? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water. This also helps cut the pungent edge. Drain well before combining with other ingredients.

How do I get rid of cabbage smell in my house? ›

How to Get Rid of Cooking Smells
  1. Boil lemons. Make a lemon steam to neutralize pungent odors. ...
  2. Leave a bowl of baking soda or vinegar out overnight. ...
  3. Open your windows and range hood. ...
  4. Refresh your sink. ...
  5. Simmer a stovetop potpourri. ...
  6. Try a charcoal filter splatter screen. ...
  7. Invest in an air purifier. ...
  8. Use coffee grounds.
Apr 5, 2024

What is the smell of boiling cabbage? ›

The hot water will leach a lot of the unwanted compounds from the cabbage, making it taste milder than either stir-frying or steaming. Prolonged cooking turns the sulfurous compounds into trisulfides — noxious-smelling compounds that have a tendency to linger in the kitchen.

What does pouring salt into a cabbage do? ›

The salt then draws moisture out of the cabbage's cells through osmosis, forming a salty brine. This brine is important because it submerges the cabbage and deprives the Lactobacillus and other microorganisms of oxygen – the second step!

Can you overcook cabbage? ›

Yes, cabbage sizzles in stir-fries; simmers in soups, stews, and braises; adds healthy crunch to salads; and does wonders for casseroles, gratins, and meat pies — cabbage does it all, and for a bargain price. The key to cooking cabbage: Don't overcook it. Cabbage is sweet and aromatic when cooked correctly.

Why do you soak cabbage in vinegar? ›

Douse the cabbage in vinegar water, if desired.

Vinegar kills some types of bacteria and helps killing mold and mildew that could have grown on the cabbage.

How to make cabbage less gassy? ›

One way to cut down on some of the gas-producing effects is to choose cooked cabbage over raw. “Generally speaking, cooking can help reduce this effect by 'softening' the fiber, making it a little bit easier on the digestive system,” explains Cording.

Do cabbage make you gassy? ›

Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. It's best to slowly introduce these vegetables into your diet and gradually increase your intake. Individuals with sensitive digestive tracts might want to limit cabbage or talk to your doctor.

What vitamin is lost when cabbage is boiled? ›

More than 50% of vitamin C is lost from cabbage when it is cooked in boiling water. Less vitamin C is lost during cooking when the cabbage is plunged directly into boiling water because this should immediately inactivate the enzyme ascorbic oxidase.

How to get rid of bloat from cabbage? ›

Cabbage contains an insoluble sugar and a lot of fiber. These can cause gas in some people. However, there are some herbs that might be useful, cooked with the cabbage, to reduce the amount of gas. These include dill seed, sage, caraway, basil, oregano, ginger, fennel, and allspice.

How do you keep cabbage green while cooking? ›

The trick to keeping your vegetables colorful while boiling them is to add baking soda to the pot of water. The addition of baking soda will turn your water alkaline (or basic), as opposed to acidic.

How to make cruciferous vegetables less gassy? ›

Some veggies are hard to chew thoroughly (raw cauliflower comes to mind), and in cases such as this avoiding raw and favoring cooked crucifers can help you out a lot. In addition to being easier to chew, cooking breaks down the fibers, like raffinose, that can cause gas by the bacteria in the gut.

How to get rid of gas in stomach immediately? ›

How to remove gas from the stomach instantly home remedies include:
  1. Drink a glass of warm water, or tea made with herbs such as peppermint, fennel, carom, cumin, or ginger.
  2. Move around. ...
  3. Gently massage your stomach. ...
  4. Try yoga poses that can relieve gas. ...
  5. Take activated charcoal or simethicone.
Jun 17, 2024

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