Freshly picked peas from the garden are delicious. But if you have a large field of them and need to keep them for the rest of the year, freezing them can keep much of their taste intact.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Method 1: Freeze the Peas
Part 1: Prepare the Peas
Step 1. Choose the pods
Choose the freshest and ripest, with a uniform color. They must be free of dents. Discard any that have dark spots or mold.
Step 2. Shell the peas
As with pods, discard peas with dark spots, mold, or other defects.
Get help if you have a lot of peas to shell. It's a time-consuming job, but it's more fun if you can talk to others around the table while you work. Either way, proceed quickly to move on to blanching peas, as they begin to lose their freshness when exposed to the air and their skin hardens. If you can't get help, peel them out a little at a time, scald them, then start peeling again
Step 3. Rinse the peas
Put them in a colander and wash them under running water, removing the broken ones.
- Pour them into another colander to rinse the first and remove the dirt.
- Rinse the peas, put them back in the first colander and rinse them one more time.
Part 2: Blanching the Peas
Step 1. Sear the peas
Peas need to be blanched to stay fresh and green. Without this procedure, they risk blackening and taking a bad taste. To scald them:
- Fill a large saucepan with water and bring it to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water and add a few ice cubes. Put it aside, you will pour the peas into it after blanching.
- Pour the peas into the boiling water. If you have a lot of them, you will need to do this in several steps. The peas should be placed in a colander with handles wider than the container that contains the water, or in a towel to dip into the water. Otherwise it will be difficult to get them all back fast enough when the time comes.
- Blanch them for 3 minutes. Check that the water in the pot does not overflow when boiling.
Step 2. Remove the peas
Pour them into the bowl full of ice-cold water to instantly stop cooking.
Step 3. Let the peas drain in the colander or inside the fabric
Press them gently to remove excess water.
Part 3: Storing the Peas
Step 1. Be quick in this operation
The faster peas arrive in the freezer, the greater the chance that they will be stored properly. If you keep them at room temperature for too long, they risk becoming mushy. Place blanched peas in resealable bags or containers suitable for freezing. Compress them as much as possible to remove the air. Leave about 1.5 cm of space between the peas and the lid to allow them to expand during freezing.
- Press gently to remove the air from the packages. Pouring ice water on the outside of the packages can help eliminate the air.
- Seal and label.
Step 2. Place the bags or containers in the freezer
Method 2 of 3: Method 2: Freeze the pods
Some varieties of peas have edible pods. These can also be frozen. Follow these instructions.
Part 1: Prepare the Pods
Step 1. Choose the pods
They must be a nice green color, with no blemishes, stains or traces of mold.
Step 2. Rinse the pods
Place the pods in a colander and rinse them under running water. Remove any loose pieces. Rinse several times to clean them completely.
Step 3. Remove the ends of the pods
Remove any wires.
Part 2: Blanch the Pods
As with peas, a sear ensures their freshness, taste and color.
Step 1. Bring a pot of water to a boil
Prepare a bowl full of ice water to pour the pods into once blanched.
Step 2. Place the pods in a cloth or colander
Immerse them in boiling water following these directions:
- 1 minute for thin snow peas.
- 1 to 2 minutes for the pods of the eater pea, snow pea and sweet pea varieties.
Step 3. Take them off the heat
Immediately pour them into the ice water to stop cooking.
Part 3: Storing the Pods
Step 1. Drain the pods
Leave them in a colander to get rid of excess water. They can also be placed on absorbent paper but not for too long, as they may harden.
Step 2. Place them in resealable bags or containers suitable for freezing
Compact them to eliminate air and press gently to push out more air before sealing. Leave a space of about 1.5 cm between the pods and the lid to allow them to expand during freezing.
Alternatively, lay them out on a paper-covered baking sheet. Cover with a layer of cling film and freeze. Remove the frozen pan and package the already frozen pods
Step 3. Label the container
Step 4. Put it in the freezer
Method 3 of 3: Method 3: Cooking Frozen Peas
Step 1. Remove the peas from the freezer
Take only the ones you need, leaving the others frozen.
Step 2. Cook in boiling water
If you cook them yourself you will need to boil them for about 3-10 minutes depending on the quantity. If you steam them it will take a little longer.
You can add butter or oil to improve the taste of boiled peas
Step 3. Add them to the dishes you are preparing
Frozen peas can be added directly to soups, stews, fried potatoes, etc., while cooking them. Frozen pods can also be used directly in these recipes.
