Produce
Cabbage
Cabbage is the cheapest cruciferous vegetable per serving and one of the lowest-residue leafy options, because the outer leaves that take the spray get stripped off before sale.
Organic upgrade priority
Conventional is a reasonable budget choice
Score 8/100 · about $0.75 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 12/100 against 0/100 for organic — a 12-point difference.
- →At about 4 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is limited, so the score is weighted down by 28%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 12/100
- Lower residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 76/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $2.49
- per head · organic +40%
- Servings a week
- 4
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,309
- Conventional, 2017–2019 · 48 organic
- Data confidence
- Limited
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional cabbage
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,309 | 48 |
| Program years | 2017–2019 | 2017–2019 |
| Samples with any residue | 26% | 0% |
| Mean residues per sample | 0.4 | 0.0 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 12/100 | 0/100 |
| Typical price | $2.49 / head | $3.49 / head |
Nutrition
Per 1 cup chopped (89 g).
22
calories
1.1 g
protein
2.2 g
fiber
—
sugar
- Vitamin C 40% DV
- Vitamin K 68% DV
- Glucosinolates
How to wash cabbage
Discard the outermost two leaves and rinse the cut face. The interior of a cabbage head is effectively sealed.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆A head of cabbage keeps for over a month in the fridge, which makes it the most waste-resistant vegetable you can buy.
- ◆Shredded raw cabbage delivers similar glucosinolates to kale at roughly a quarter of the price per serving.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic cabbage?
Probably not, if money is tight. Cabbage indexes 12/100 on relative residue evidence against 0/100 for organic — a difference small enough that the same dollars buy far more on leafy greens or berries.
›Are cabbage high in pesticides?
Cabbage shows lower residue evidence — an index of 12/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,309 conventional samples from 2017–2019, 26% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 0.4 distinct compounds per sample, and 0.08% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic cabbage cost?
About 40% more at typical U.S. retail — $2.49 per head conventional against $3.49 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $0.75 a week.
›How should I wash cabbage?
Discard the outermost two leaves and rinse the cut face. The interior of a cabbage head is effectively sealed.
Related foods
Spinach
$3.29 / 5 oz container · organic $4.49
Kale
$2.79 / bunch · organic $3.79
Broccoli
$2.49 / lb · organic $3.69
Bell peppers
$1.49 / each · organic $2.29