What is the Difference Between Red Cabbage and Green Cabbage

The main difference between red cabbage and green cabbage is their colour variation. The fan-like leaves of green cabbages have a pale green colour and taste mild with a slightly rubbery texture when they are raw. Red cabbages, on the other hand, have dark reddish-purple leaves, which have a relatively deeper and earthier flavour.

When focusing on the culinary uses of cabbage, green cabbage is eaten fresh or used in soups, braises, and stir-fries, but fresh red cabbage leaves taste a little peppery and turn sweeter as they get cooked. Furthermore, red cabbage looks perfect in coleslaw and adds a beautiful shade to leafy green salad mixes.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Red Cabbage 
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Green Cabbage
     – Definition, Features
3. Similarities – Red Cabbage and Green Cabbage
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Red Cabbage and Green Cabbage
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Cabbage, Green Cabbage, Red Cabbage

What is Red Cabbage

Red cabbage is a dark purplish cruciferous vegetable that is consumed both raw and cooked. It is also called purple cabbage, blue kraut, or red kraut. Compared to green cabbage heads, red cabbage tastes slightly peppery. Red cabbage heads are denser but smaller in size than green cabbage heads. The purple colour is a result of the pH levels of the soil in which the red cabbages are planted and a result of the pigment produced by anthocyanins it contains.

Red cabbage is a powerhouse of vitamin C, which makes it an antioxidant-filled immune booster. Compared to green cabbage, red cabbage has a ten times higher nutritional content of cancer-fighting flavonoids, vitamins, and antioxidants which boost your bone, teeth, eye, and immune health. It is believed that flavonoids present in red cabbage help in weight loss by releasing hormones capable of metabolizing fat and suppressing appetite. Researchers show that red cabbage also fights against arthritis and inflammation thanks to its strong phytonutrient content.

What is Green Cabbage

Similar to red cabbage, green cabbage is also an annually grown leafy green cruciferous vegetable. Green cabbage is a member of the Brassica family. Green cabbages usually take a round or an oval shape. They have a light green or whiter soft inner layer of leaves, which are covered with a harder and darker green outer layer of leaves.

Green cabbage is a commonly used vegetable in every corner of the world as it can be cooked into so many dishes. We frequently add cooked or fresh green cabbage leaves into many salads.  Just like red cabbage, green cabbage gives us a heavy pack of health benefits. Green cabbage is rich in antioxidants. It not only helps us to improve digestion and boost human brain function but also helps to protect our skin against disorders and fight heart diseases. Most importantly, just green cabbage is also one of the best low-calorie food options we may come across.

Similarities Between Red cabbage and Green cabbage

• Red and green cabbages are leafy cruciferous vegetables that belong to the Brassica family.
• Both cabbage varieties are annual crops.
• Furthermore, similar to brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower, both these cabbage varieties are cole crops.
• Red and green cabbages are rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and antioxidants and render you a heavy load of health benefits.
• Moreover, both of them are low-calorie food options.

Difference Between Red Cabbage and Green Cabbage

Definition

Red cabbage is an annually grown leafy cruciferous vegetable with a dark purplish shade, while green cabbage is a leafy cruciferous vegetable with a green shade.

Nutrient Profile

Red cabbage is more nutritious than green cabbage since it contains cancer-fighting flavonoids, vitamins, and antioxidants, which boost your bone, teeth, eye, and immune health.

Flavour

Compared to green cabbage heads, red cabbages taste slightly peppery and deeper.

Conclusion

The main difference between red cabbage and green cabbage is that red cabbage consists of dark-purplish leaves while green cabbage consists of green coloured leaves. When we cook any vegetable rather than eating it raw, some nutrient content gets lost during the processes of steaming, boiling, microwaving, etc. This same phenomenon is common for red cabbage and green cabbage. Therefore, uncooked and fresh cabbage will bring you the most nutrition as a whole if you want to absorb a nutrition-packed punch from both these amazingly healthy cabbage varieties.

Reference:

1. Brennan, Dan. “Red Cabbage: Health Benefits, Nutrients per Serving, Preparation Information, and More.” WebMD, 17 Sept. 2020.
2. Kubala, Jillian. “9 Impressive Health Benefits of Cabbage.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 4 Nov. 2017.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Red-cabbage-vegetables-cabbage” (CC0) via Pixabay
2. “Green Cabbage, Vegetable, Food, cabbage, food and drink, green color, healthy eating, freshness, wellbeing, full frame” (CC0) via Pxfuel

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