Injoys
Brined napa cabbage is best used on the day it arrives. Whether to wash it again depends on the product instructions and storage conditions. If it has been stored at room temperature for at least 1 day, washing before use is recommended. Check each product’s instructions for refrigerated storage periods and draining times.
The guidance on the number of washes and room-temperature storage comes from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s notice dated November 13, 2019.
The difference between washing and draining on the packaging
Washing means cleaning with water, while draining means removing excess water. A label stating that washing is complete does not necessarily mean draining is also complete. This is why instructions for washing again and draining must be read separately.
A 2015 notice from Korea Policy Briefing introduces products that can be used without further washing or draining. In contrast, Natural Dream’s 2022 product information states that draining was skipped. Even products with the same name need to be checked for how they were actually processed.
| What the product says | Meaning | What else to check |
|---|---|---|
| Washed | Washed during production | Whether the consumer needs to wash it again |
| Drained | Excess water removed during production | Whether further draining is needed before use |
| Use without washing | Instructions for use by the consumer | Whether storage instructions were followed after delivery |
| Wash before use | Instructions requiring additional washing | How to wash it and drain it afterward |
| Drain before use | Instructions requiring draining before use | Recommended draining time and storage conditions during preparation |
If the label is unclear, check with the manufacturer or seller. You should also check if the product description differs from the enclosed instructions. When asking, provide the name and label details of the product you actually received.
Check the purchased product’s instructions for how long salted napa cabbage can be refrigerated.
When cabbage must be washed after room-temperature storage
The condition under which the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommends washing again is storage at room temperature for at least 1 day. The same notice warns that coliform bacteria may increase after more than a day at room temperature. Coliforms are a group of bacteria used as an indicator of hygiene conditions.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety provided the following guidance in “A Useful Guide to Safely Using Brined Napa Cabbage During Kimchi-Making Season.”
It is best not to wash brined napa cabbage more than 3 times.
This wording also appears in the ministry’s document republished by Daegu Metropolitan City. The document explains that excessive washing can damage the cabbage, including making it soft. Even when additional washing is needed, you should not keep increasing the number of washes.
Decision table for changes to your preparation schedule
If your kimchi-making date is postponed, check both where the cabbage has actually been stored and for how long. The delivery date alone does not tell you about room-temperature storage conditions. Compare these details with the product’s instructions as well.
| Situation | What to check | Basis for deciding |
|---|---|---|
| Using the product on the day it arrives, with no additional washing required | Conditions for use on the packaging and enclosed instructions | Prepare according to the product instructions |
| Using the product on the day it arrives, but washing is required | Instructions for additional washing | Use after washing |
| Stored at room temperature for at least 1 day | Actual time stored at room temperature | The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recommends washing before use and advises washing no more than 3 times |
| Refrigerated according to the product instructions | Storage temperature and usable storage period | Check the conditions for that product |
| Storage location or duration is unclear | Storage history since delivery | Explain the situation to the manufacturer or seller and check whether it can be used |
A statement that no additional washing is needed must be read together with the storage instructions. If the room-temperature storage condition applies, follow the ministry’s washing recommendation. Other buyers’ experiences alone are not enough to make this decision.
Where to check how long brined napa cabbage can be refrigerated
Check the label of the product you purchased for its refrigerated storage period. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s 2019 consumer guidance does not give a universal number of days for refrigerated storage. If there are no product instructions, check with the manufacturer or seller.
For the Natural Dream product listed in 2022, the instructions required storage in a kimchi refrigerator if it could not be used that day. They also explicitly warned of possible spoilage from prolonged exposure to room temperature. These instructions apply to that product and should not be treated as storage conditions for other products.
Check the following:
- Storage temperature and where to refrigerate it
- The usable storage period and the date from which it is counted
- Any changes in storage conditions after opening
- Instructions for use if the kimchi-making schedule is postponed
A storage period counted from the production date differs from one counted from the delivery date. If the label counts from the production date, do not restart the count on the day it arrives. This is why you should check the date on the label before putting it in the refrigerator.
