Cabbage contains lots of water, and quite frequently you end up with a soggy mess in the bottom of the bowl of cabbage salad. To avoid this, after shredding or slicing the cabbage, salt it generously and allow it to drain in a colander for half an hour or so. The salt will pull a lot of water out of the cabbage. Rinse well to remove the salt before using, and drain with a salad spinner.