How to Reheat Cabbage Rolls - Step by Step

Cabbage rolls are a home-cooked favourite, consisting of minced meat and tightly wrapped in cabbage rolls and slathered in tomato sauce. Its preparation requires some time and patience, since each cabbage leaf must be stuffed and rolled separately.

Since it takes a while to make, it makes sense to make a few extra cabbage rolls to enjoy later.

And how are they reheated?  Cabbage rolls are best when reheated in the oven. This allows them to heat evenly and does not make the cabbage leaf too soggy or the meat and rice dry out. 

Reheat cabbage rolls in the oven

The oven is by far the best method of heating cabbage rolls. You can heat them from the fridge or from frozen in the oven.

• Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Arrange the cabbage rolls on a cookie sheet and pour some extra tomato sauce over the cabbage rolls.
• Cover the cabbage rolls on the baking sheet with foil and bake for 30-45 minutes until heated through.
• If they need a little more time in the oven, check back every 5 minutes until they’re ready to eat.

If you cook the cabbage rolls from frozen, they will take longer. However, you can leave them out to thaw in the fridge overnight to speed up reheating time.

Advantages of using the oven

The oven offers the best results for reheating cabbage rolls. Heat the cabbage rolls evenly, so you don’t have some parts icy and some parts very hot.

The oven is also less likely to dry out the ketchup, since you’ll have a foil covering over the rolls. The meat inside, as well as the rice, will stay moist and flavorful , and the cabbage leaves won’t get too soggy.

Cons of using the oven

Obviously, the oven takes longer to heat up the cabbage rolls than when using other methods, so be sure to include at least an hour in the cooking time, to allow the oven to heat up and then reheat the cabbage rolls.

Reheat Cabbage Rolls in the Microwave

Surprisingly, many recipes allow you to cook cabbage rolls from scratch in the microwave, so it makes sense that you could also reheat cabbage rolls in the microwave, and it’s pretty easy to do.

• Arrange the cabbage rolls on a microwave-safe plate and pour the leftover sauce on top of the cabbage rolls.
• Wrap the top of the plate with plastic.  This causes the cabbage rolls to be steamed in the microwave , which helps keep them moist and tender without losing too much sauce or drying out.
• Microwave the cabbage rolls on full power for 4 minutes.
• Let them sit for 1 minute afterwards and check if they have heated up well. Letting them rest for a minute allows the heat to spread evenly throughout the cabbage rolls.
• If they need to be heated further, do so in 1-minute increments until heated through.

Advantages of using the microwave

The obvious advantage of using the microwave is that it is the fastest way to heat up cabbage rolls. You just have to put them in the microwave for a few minutes until they are heated through.

By using plastic wrap to cover the cabbage rolls, you also prevent excess moisture from escaping, which helps keep the cabbage rolls moist and tender.

Disadvantages of using the microwave

One of the drawbacks of using the microwave to reheat cabbage rolls is that it can give inconsistent results. Some areas of food may be incredibly hot, while others will still be cold.

Leaving the cabbage roll covered for one minute after heating allows the heat to spread evenly, warming all areas. Then it is convenient to put them back in the microwave for another minute so that they heat up well.

Reheat cabbage rolls on the stove

You may not be able to cook cabbage rolls on the stovetop as well as in the oven, but you can reheat them in a skillet.

Use a large, flat skillet that is large enough to hold the cabbage rolls. If you’re going to reheat a lot, you may need to do it in batches. Arrange the cabbage rolls inside the large skillet, making sure they are not too tightly packed.

• Spoon some extra sauce over the top of the cabbage rolls to give them extra moisture. Put the sauce in the pan over low heat , as this will indicate how hot your cabbage rolls are.
• You can also add a little broth to the pan, so that the cabbage rolls simmer slightly.
• Let heat over medium to low heat for 15 minutes , stirring and turning if possible.
• Check if they have warmed up well after 15 minutes, and if not, check again after a minute or two.

Advantages of using the stove

Using the stove is a fairly quick method of reheating cabbage rolls compared to oven. You can also add more sauce or broth to the pan with the cabbage rolls if needed, without having to remove the pan from the oven or microwave to do so.

You can also move the cabbage rolls so they warm up better on the stove. Simmering the broth and sauce also allows the cabbage rolls to have more concentrated flavors.

Cons of using the stove

The stove won’t be able to heat the cabbage rolls as evenly as the oven, and you’ll need to move the cabbage rolls around to ensure they heat evenly. You will also need to add broth or sauce to the pan to prevent them from drying out.

Freeze cabbage rolls

If you won’t be eating your leftover cabbage rolls soon, you may want to freeze them to preserve for later.

• To freeze the cabbage rolls, you can place the cabbage rolls in a freezer bag and remove as much air as possible from the bag before closing it.
• You can place it horizontally in the freezer to save space. You can also place the cabbage rolls on top of each other in a freezer-safe container.
• It’s a good idea to freeze the sauce separate from the cabbage rolls.
• Moisture from the sauce could ruin the texture and flavor of your cabbage rolls in the freezer, and keeping the sauce separate helps keep it on hand for anything you might need.

Cabbage rolls can be kept in the freezer for up to 1 month before they start to lose their flavor and texture. When you’re ready to eat them, you can let them thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Related questions

Is it better to freeze cooked or uncooked cabbage rolls?

It is best to freeze uncooked cabbage rolls as it helps to better preserve the flavor and texture of the cabbage rolls.

You can also freeze cooked cabbage rolls, but be sure to freeze them properly in airtight, safe containers so they don’t get freezer burn or form too many ice crystals that can break the cabbage leaves.

How long can cabbage rolls be left uncooked in the fridge?

Uncooked cabbage rolls can be kept in the fridge for a day , but make sure they are stored in an airtight container or wrapped in heavy-duty foil and plastic wrap.

Cooked cabbage rolls can keep in the fridge for up to 4 days , as long as they are stored in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap and then double wrapped in aluminum foil.

Can cabbage rolls be made the night before?

You can prepare the cabbage rolls the night before, and leave them in the fridge from the night before to cook the next day.

Keep ready-made cabbage rolls wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in an airtight container. When it’s time to cook the cabbage rolls, place them in a preheated 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for 45 minutes or until cooked through.

reheat cabbage rolls

Cabbage rolls are a very comforting home-cooked meal, and having a few leftovers is the best way to enjoy an easy dinner or lunch the next day. You can also freeze some leftover cabbage rolls and gravy to make as a last minute dinner on one of your busiest days.

Using the oven to reheat the cabbage rolls is the best option, as it won’t dry them out and you’ll still have soft cabbage leaves with a juicy, tender filling.