I like consuming peas, however not simply any peas. Canned peas are delicate and flavorless. The one option to get near the style of contemporary is to learn the way freeze peas. We’ll take you thru the method step-by-step so you’ll be able to have contemporary tasting peas 12 months spherical.
Why Freezing Contemporary Peas is Higher than Canning
As I discussed above, I’m not a fan of the style and texture of canned peas. Industrial ones usually style just like the can they’re in.
For dwelling canning, you want a strain canner to securely course of them, as they’re a low acid meals. With freezing, you don’t want particular tools, apart from a freezer. (A vacuum sealer is useful to maintain them frost free and lengthen shelf life.)
There is a vital tip that you just want to remember for greatest taste, which I’ll get to shortly.
What You Want
- Contemporary inexperienced peas from the backyard or farmers market
- Giant pot for blanching
- Bowl of ice water
- Slotted spoon or colander
- Freezer luggage, vacuum seal luggage, or hermetic containers
- Baking sheet (non-obligatory, however most popular)
Step-by-Step Directions to Freeze Backyard Peas
This course of works for snap peas, snow peas, and shell peas. With snap peas and snow peas, we take away the stem and string. Then we blanch and freeze peas and pod collectively.
My favourite shell pea selection is Inexperienced Arrow. My favourite snap pea selection is Tremendous Sugar Snap.
1. Harvest or Buy Contemporary Peas
Select tender peas which might be younger, plump, and vibrant inexperienced. Keep away from pods which might be dry, discolored, or too mature, as these are typically starchy and bland. When you’re rising your individual peas, harvest them early within the morning when their sugar ranges are highest.
2. Shell the Peas
Take away the peas from their pods. Discard any discolored or broken peas.
***It’s essential that you just course of peas as quickly as potential after choosing!
As soon as off the vine, peas begin to convert sugars to starches, supplying you with the tasteless style so widespread in retailer purchased peas. This is without doubt one of the causes you don’t see contemporary peas within the retailer fairly often. Snap peas maintain their taste off the vine higher than shell peas.
Typically you find yourself with pods which might be overripe, particularly in a big row of peas. If we now have fairly a number of of those, we freeze them individually and label them as “soup peas”. We use them in soups with different veggies, and the soup provides taste to the tasteless peas.
3. Blanch the Peas
Blanching halts enzyme exercise that may trigger the peas to lose coloration, taste, and texture throughout freezing. Right here’s the right way to do it:
- Carry a big pot of water to a rolling boil.
- Add the shelled peas to the boiling water and blanch them for 1.5 to 2 minutes.
- Rapidly take away the peas utilizing a slotted spoon or drain them in a colander.
4. Cool the Peas in Ice Water
Instantly switch the peas to an ice water bathtub to cease the cooking course of. Allow them to sit for about 2 to three minutes, making certain they’re totally chilled. Give them a stir to ensure all of them quiet down.
5. Drain and Dry the Peas
Drain the peas properly to take away extra water. Unfold them on a clear kitchen towel or paper towels and pat them dry. Extra moisture could cause ice crystals to kind, resulting in freezer burn.
6. Elective: Flash Freeze the Peas
For simpler portioning later, you’ll be able to flash-freeze the peas. Unfold them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place them within the freezer for about 1 hour (or extra). I normally flash freeze in the future and pack them the following day.
I pre-freeze them like this for a few causes.
- It retains them from forming a giant inexperienced lump within the freezer.
- I retailer them in vacuum seal luggage long run. I don’t flash freeze, moisture usually will get within the seal and the vacuum doesn’t maintain.
7. Bundle the Peas for Freezing
Switch the peas to freezer luggage, vacuum seal luggage, or hermetic containers. If utilizing luggage, press out as a lot air as potential to forestall freezer burn. I choose to make use of a vacuum sealer, as a result of it extends shelf life and reduces ice crystals.
After sitting within the freezer in a single day, I pack up the peas in an assortment of bag sizes. I purchase the vacuum luggage on a roll so I can minimize them to dimension. That means I can take out as a lot or as little as I want relying on the variety of folks I’m feeding.
Label every bag or container with the date so you’ll be able to observe how lengthy they’ve been in storage.
8. Freeze the Peas
Place the packaged peas within the coldest a part of your freezer. Correctly frozen backyard peas can last as long as 12 months whereas retaining their high quality.
Suggestions for Utilizing Frozen Peas
You don’t have to thaw frozen peas earlier than cooking. Simply toss them instantly into soups, stews, or stir-fries. For a easy facet dish, warmth the peas with a bit butter, salt, and pepper. Be light – your peas are already blanched, so that you solely have to reheat them, not prepare dinner them.
For salads or facet dishes, briefly steam or boil the frozen peas for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, take them out a bit earlier than you want them and allow them to thaw at room temperature. We use frozen peas in chilled pasta salads to assist quiet down the pasta.
Can You Freeze Peas With out Blanching?
Sure, you’ll be able to, however I don’t suggest it. Blanching actually does make a distinction within the taste, maintaining your peas brisker, longer. The flavour distinction is the larger the longer the peas are in storage.
Sure, it’s Value it to Freeze Peas
Homegrown peas are so candy, delicate and flavorful that it’s arduous to imagine they’re the identical meals as their industrial counterparts. It takes time to protect them, nevertheless it’s price it to us as a result of they’re scrumptious.
When you don’t have contemporary peas to freeze, search for natural frozen peas. Attempt completely different manufacturers, as a few of them use overripe peas whereas others use younger, tender peas.
You may additionally get pleasure from:
Rising Peas – From Planting to Harvest
The best way to Begin a Backyard – 10 Suggestions for Rookies
8 Small Vegetable Backyard Concepts & Rising Suggestions
This text was written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie and her household reside in northeast Wisconsin, the place they develop annual gardens and a permaculture meals forest. The protect meals with a mixture of outdated and new strategies, from root cellaring to freeze drying.
