I usually cook the cabbage after the corned beef. The meat should rest for 10 minutes anyway, so fire up the cooking fluids, toss in the cabbage, sink it and a few minutes later it's as limp as you like. On the times I've cooked the cabbage with the meat, it has turned nearly translucent.
BTW, I use bottled beer as my cooking fluid in the crockpot.
Shamrocks to all tomorrow!
BTW, I use bottled beer as my cooking fluid in the crockpot.

Shamrocks to all tomorrow!