Fried Cabbage with Apples and Fakin’ Bacon is an oil-free plant-based vegan stovetop sauté recipe using apple for the sweetness that includes instructions for how to cook cabbage in an Instant Pot! Though we typically sauté cabbage on the stovetop, we sometimes use an Instant Pot for cooking cabbage to free up cooking space.

In this recipe article, we’ll provide the steps for how to cook cabbage in an Instant Pot. And in the recipe portion, we will give instructions for the easy stovetop cooking for vegan cabbage and bacon.

What Does it Mean When our Recipe for Fried Cabbage with Apples and Bacon Says to Sauté?

To sauté is simply a term to describe a quick-cooking food method. Sautéing uses a minimal amount of fat and a high level of heat.

Sauté is a French word from the French action word, or verb, sauter, which, according to our Google search, means; to jump.  

Sauteeing (sautéing) describes how food reacts when placed in a hot pan and the method of tossing the food in the pan.

In our recipe for Fried Cabbage with Apples and Bacon, we sauté using vegetable broth in place of fats. So rather than oil or butter to keep the veggies from sticking, we use broth or water. We choose to avoid using oils for cooking whenever possible. Oils heated at high temperatures may become terribly problematic for the body.  

All of the recipes we create are plant-based, oil-free, and gluten-free.

How to Cook Cabbage in an Instant Pot

Cabbage is a water-rich vegetable which generally causes it to cook quickly. So, we typically prepare our oil-free Fried Cabbage, Apples & Bacon on the stovetop.

But on those occasions when we’re preparing multiple dishes at a time, an Instant Pot comes in handy. You can easily cook most of the ingredients for this cabbage and bacon recipe in an Instant Pot.

And generally speaking, using an Instant Pot to prepare one part of a meal allows you to focus on something else while it cooks.

Easiest Way to Cook Cabbage in an Instant Pot:

First, set your Instant Pot to the Sauté setting and give it a moment or two to get hot.

Add the splash of vegetable broth and cook the onions and fennel seeds for a couple of minutes, at most. 

Next, add the rest of the ingredients, other than the cabbage and Fakin’ Bacon, stirring and cooking for another minute or two.

Then, change the Instant Pot setting to manual and add another little splash of vegetable broth if it looks dry. Add the chopped cabbage to the pot and stir. Secure the lid, and be sure to turn the venting knob to the sealing position. 

Now, set to cook on high pressure for one minute.

After the minute of cooking time completes, allow the pressure to release naturally or carefully release by doing a quick release if you prefer firmly cooked cabbage.

Remove the lid, taste, and season with salt and pepper. Stir one last time if you’ve added seasoning. Serve your oil-free Fried Cabbage with Apples and Bacon topped with delicious bits of Fakin’ Bacon.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Cabbage in an Instant Pot?

Allowing your Instant Pot to naturally release its pressure enables the cabbage to finish cooking and become more tender. Quickly removing or manually releasing the pressure stops the cooking, allowing the cabbage to remain a bit more firm.

It’s important to remember that most Instant Pot recipes require more cooking time than described to accommodate the time it takes for the pot to reach pressure. You will need to add around 15 minutes to the Instant Pot’s cooking time to allow it to come to pressure. 

For the approximate suggested cooking times for other foods in an Instant Pot, refer to this helpful site.

More Recipes to Sauté on Stovetop or in an Instant Pot

We appreciate options, how about you? The following recipes give you plenty of choices when it comes to cooking methods.

Instant Pot Black Bean Soup, 3 Ways

1-Pot Enchilada Lentil Rice

Instant Pot Sun-Dried Tomato Spaghetti Squash

Vegan Carrot Hot Dogs

Thank You for Reading About Vegan Fried Cabbage with Apples and Bacon!

As always, we want to thank you for sharing your time with us. Whether you decide to sauté this dish on the stovetop or let your Instant Pot cook your oil-free cabbage, we’re glad you’re here!  

Since there’s very little we enjoy more than creating new plant-based, gluten-free, and oil-free recipes, we value the time you spend trying our ideas. And that’s also why we do things like share two cooking methods in one recipe—we want you to experience, first hand, the helpful nature we intend for this site.

Happy Eating!