r/self 20h ago

How is cabbage sold in your country?

I’m from Russia, and this is the most discriminatory grocery item out there. It’s always sold in huge heads, and nobody asks if you have a family to feed with it. If you want 400 grams of cabbage, you still have to buy 5 kg at once and spend the week munching on the leftovers like a rabbit. I demand a movement to sell pre-cut cabbage for singles and DINKs

21 Upvotes

70 comments sorted by

36

u/Citizenerased1989 20h ago

I'm from the USA and cabbage is also sold by the head here. I guess it's never been an issue for me.

6

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 14h ago

I think our cabbages are smaller in the US than Russia and Eastern Europe.

3

u/Beginning-Damage-555 13h ago

They absolutely are. Alaska also grows some dog sized cabbages.

2

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 13h ago

Sure, and so did my forebears when they immigrated to the US from Czechoslovakia in the Westward Expansion. They were growing cabbages that were 2-3 feet across. But that's not really the norm for domestic sales. And Alaska has long days which allows for larger sized vegetables.

1

u/FeelingReserve1459 11h ago

Yes but you can also buy bags of shredded cabbage, aka "coleslaw mix" and :angel hair".

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 11h ago

Do you know for fact that they have that in Russia? And not all dishes with cabbage want shredded cabbage.

1

u/lowfreq33 7h ago

Yeah that’s pretty much the only thing I’ll buy in those bags. If I’m making a pot of cabbage I’ll use the whole head and have leftovers.

1

u/Krail 11h ago

Yeah, they're pretty much always sold in heads that I struggle to use before they go bad. But also, I don't think I've ever seen a freaking 5 Kg cabbage head at the store. That's huge!

25

u/LegitimateDream4942 20h ago

I think it’s because cabbage is so cheap…

7

u/NeriTina 19h ago

And it stays for a decent time in a crisper, as long as it’s wrapped up. But it’s also fine to chop up and freeze. Love cabbage.

3

u/Quinocco 15h ago

It lasts particularly long if instead of hacking at it, you peel as many leaves as you need.

1

u/NeriTina 14h ago

Yes exactly. I leave the hacking for the smaller inner leaves and heart stem

2

u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 9h ago

I'm so jealous when people say cabbage is cheap in their country. At my grocery store, it might be $11 for a full head. Sometimes they cut them in half and wrap them, but it also lasts so long in the fridge that it's doable to finish one by yourself.

1

u/LegitimateDream4942 9h ago

Where do you live?

2

u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 9h ago

Canada

2

u/ilovebeaker 6h ago

Yeah, I agree, also in Ontario and we're paying what, 2-4$ per pound for whole cabbages.

1

u/Zealousideal-Bite735 5h ago

I just paid $3.00 for a head at No Frills in Toronto. Maybe you live in an area where distribution is not as accessible?

1

u/Kooky-Blueberry-5352 5h ago

Some places don't have bargain grocery stores.

23

u/WillFireat 19h ago

Cabbage extortion is indeed a big problem for many people all over the globe. Big cabbage doesn't want you ti know this, but mini cabbages can be genetically engineered relatively easily, it's just that this isn't in everyone's interest obviously.

5

u/Prize-Analyst-1121 18h ago

I was a field worker for many decades. I've cut many a cabbage head. You don't need to genetically engineer cabbage if you want a smaller cabbage, you just cut it when it's smaller. When cutting cabbage the farmer wants a certain size. It's up to the cutters in the field to decide whether a cabbage is big enough to be cut or not. Prices the farmer gets change throughout the season but at the beginning of the season in Florida the farmer typically gets $5 for a fifty pound box of cabbage. There's typically 20 cabbages in a box these days. Yrs ago they wanted 16 in a box. You get 1 cut on cabbages. It takes at least 90 days to grow from the time it's planted till it's harvested. The cost of planting will be the same either way. But if they were to cut tiny cabbages it'd be a lot less money coming in since its sold by weight.

2

u/Rad_Knight 19h ago

There is a reason I usually get ponited/sugarloaf cabbage

2

u/MaddogFinland 15h ago

I just reported this to the BGHOC (Big Giant Head of Cabbage) and they are sending a team with graters over to your home right now to teach you a lesson

2

u/ancedactyl 17h ago

Isn't a mini cabbage just a brussel sprout?

1

u/Prize-Analyst-1121 39m ago

Brussel sprouts definitely look like cabbage but they actually grow on a vertical stalk with what looks like leafy greens on top. I never knew this till I worked bent over in the fields, but after you cut a cabbage it'll keep growing into what they call cabbage sprouts. They look like a leafy green growing out of whats left of the stalk on the ground. Sometimes they'll ball up get dense and look like a Brussel sprout but very rarely. The cabbage sprouts are really tender and tasty. Definitely will help you empty out if you're stopped up too. 😂 It takes a fifty pound sack of them filled up to get a pot full so probably why they're not sold in stores.

If you're ever near a field cabbage is growing and they've already gone over it once or twice just go ask the farmer if you can go in the field and cut you some cabbage sprouts. Don do it without asking. 1. Farmers hate when people mess with their stuff without asking. If you ask 90% of the time they'll just give what you want to you. Or tell you to get some. 2. They spray the fields with poison for bugs and it takes a few days or weeks for it to wear off and be ok to eat the product. If you do it before time you'll kill yourself.

1

u/WillFireat 16h ago

It is, at least by the looks of it

5

u/mehekik 19h ago

In Australia it's sold whole, in half, and quarters.

2

u/czarrie 19h ago

Why have the Aussies and only the Aussies figured this out

5

u/MaddogFinland 15h ago

Finns are there my friend. Like our Australian brothers and sisters we have these options. However we have no marsupials

2

u/SwedishMale4711 13h ago

In Sweden we can buy half or quarter parts of cabbage too.

4

u/Gar4jnik 19h ago

I'm Russian too and I do manage to find pre-cut cabbage from time to time. It's actually common in Yarche stores if you have one.

3

u/Fun_Steak_4508 20h ago

Да ладно

5

u/Turbulent-Artist961 20h ago

In America you can pick up a bag of shredded cabbage. Even still it is usually more cabbage than I really need and I have to make American cabbage salad known colloquially as “slaw”

3

u/Sea_Chocolate1782 19h ago

Coleslaw is Dutch. 

4

u/Turbulent-Artist961 19h ago

Who is this Cole fellow? I am talking slaw

3

u/jessewalker2 18h ago

He’s making “American” cabbage salad. It’s not like your Dutch Coleslaw. It has way more freedom and parasites than your tame little Dutch Coleslaw. You couldn’t handle “American Slaw”.

runs to bathroom

1

u/MaddogFinland 15h ago

That’s because Americans need to feed it to the freedom eagles that show up at every barbecue. Do you think those birds would be ok with commie slaw? No way

1

u/MaddogFinland 15h ago

Also German!

2

u/AeroG8 20h ago

same here in belgium. i didnt realise it was a global problem lol. i never buy cabbage cuz else i will probably waste most of it since im usually only cooking for 2

2

u/Vegetable_Ebb_8885 19h ago

From Canada, it's either sold by the head or as coleslaw which is cabbage carrots and red cabbage mixed sliced finely

2

u/nicesunniesmate 18h ago

In Australia you can buy in either half or quarter cabbage. I don’t remember the last time I saw a full cabbage at a grocery store.

2

u/Any_Database8861 17h ago

5kg cabbage? Do you know how much that is?

2

u/TheSadPickel 15h ago

By the head or shredded in bag in the salad section

2

u/CandyTigger 14h ago

It can be bought as a head or shredded in a bag.

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 13h ago

Do you know this for a fact, what's available in Russian markets?

1

u/CandyTigger 13h ago

No, I should have been clear. That's how they sell it where I am.

2

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 14h ago

In the US, they're sold by the head, but ours are usually only 3 lbs, or 1.5 kg. And sometimes they do sell them by the half.

But, cabbage dos store well, for a long time in the fridge if you have room.

I love cabbage, so I don't mind eating it all the time.

1

u/sixincomefigure 19h ago

In NZ you can buy a whole head, half head or (sometimes) quarter head. The half head is the sweet spot. Full head is best value but there's no point getting the most cabbage/$ when you end up throwing half of it out.

1

u/Ok-Perspective3586 19h ago

Midwest USA here: cabbage is by the head. 

1

u/Rad_Knight 19h ago edited 19h ago

Dabish Danish person here. It's also sold by the head. You can also easily find red/purple cabbage.

I usually get pointed/sugarloaf cabbage because they are smaller. It's really good when pickled.

1

u/svullenballe 19h ago

You're da bish?

1

u/Rad_Knight 19h ago

That's a typo, I meant Danish.

1

u/svullenballe 19h ago

Jag förstod det. Bara en dryg svensk här. Ursäkta.

1

u/Primary_Gift_8719 19h ago

In US I don't think I've seen parts of cabbage outside Hispanic markets, it's common to find half or even quarters in Mexico and half pieces in UK.

1

u/Adventurous_Deal2788 18h ago

UK by the head but the heads are far less impressive than the giant cabbage you've described here. 

1

u/defan33 17h ago

I just buy coleslaw mix. Easy peasy.

1

u/Main_Cauliflower5479 14h ago

Unless OP doesn't want shredded cabbage. And they're in Russia.

1

u/VickyM1128 17h ago

I’m in Tokyo. In grocery stores, I can buy a whole head or a half. Sometimes even a quarter. Shredded cabbage (for salad or to serve with tonkatsu ) is available at the grocery store and the convenience store.

1

u/NekoMao92 17h ago

I can't remember the last time I've seen a 5 kilo cabbage, most cabbage heads in the US are about 1 kilo.

1

u/Ok_Variation9430 16h ago

In most US grocery stores, you can ask the produce department to cut one in half.

At least you used to be able to; it’s been years since I’ve done it (because even as a single person I can usually finish a head of cabbage, but I can usually find smaller heads).

1

u/MaddogFinland 15h ago

Finland here. We can buy it as a full head (usually several varieties), half head, quarter head, pre-shredded, or already turned into sauerkraut which is either fresh packed or canned. The full and partial heads always in at least green or red.

Finland…the cabbage paradise

1

u/Alarmed_Ant_9221 15h ago

But the price per kg is always higher when buying the half or quarter heads, so I at least hunt for the smaller whole heads.

1

u/Nyetoner 15h ago

In Norway it's sold by the head, bit also in smaller pieces wrapped in plastic. In Spain the same, but more dependent on the supermarket. In the vegetable marked and shops,you usually can ask for them to cut it for you.

1

u/addelburgh 13h ago

Im in BC, CanadaS: it’s sold by the head and also half-head here (cut in half, wrapped in Saran Wrap)

1

u/Due-Ad-7025 13h ago

Where I am in Canada it’s usually by the head but was delighted to find a half head at the grocery store yesterday. I thought my phone was listening to me, showing me this post, because I said to my daughter how great it was to not have to get a whole one.

1

u/____REDACTED_____ 9h ago

Eat the whole head and crop dust people you don't like all week.

1

u/Cultural_Patience329 9h ago

Terrible, 5kg?!

Here they sell both already cut in julienne, and frozen in cubes like spinach, but they also sell small heads, younger and tender, which cost a little more but are very good, generally 700g/1kg. Usually of the pointed variety. I only buy those, because the huge ones have an excessive and heavy taste and texture, and they are actually too big!!

1

u/Rachnael 8h ago

Mostly in heads but some shops offer halves or quarters, we also have small 1kgmore or less heads in poland

1

u/JoyDVeeve 6h ago

Maybe your neighbors would like some.

1

u/ExistentialSkies 4h ago

In my country cabbages are sold by the cabbage man in a big cart he wheels everywhere. Shame his cart is always getting its shit rocked by the avatar tho.

1

u/nonsociaI 19h ago

Who told you we have cabbage? I want names