This way, you can have them available in your freezer and use them in various recipes like Cauliflower Curry, Chicken Vegetable Soup, and Butter Lettuce Salad all year round. In this post, I will cover everything you need to know about blanching and freezing fresh peas at home to enjoy them whenever a recipe calls for them.
Why Blanch Peas?
Blanching fresh peas before freezing might sound like an extra step but the quick turn in boiling salted water:
What You’ll Need?
To blanch fresh peas you will need:
Boiling WaterKosher SaltFresh shelled peas
In terms of equipment, you will need:
A large potA slotted spoon or a spider strainer (affiliate link)Baking sheet & kitchen towelFreezer friendly reusable bags such as Stasher (affiliate link) or Ziploc freezer bags
How To Blanch Peas For Freezing?
How To Freeze and Store Peas?
You can transfer the peas into freezer bags from the ice water bath. However, doing so might result in frozen peas that are stuck to another. Therefore, I find that the best way to freeze peas has two steps.
Helpful Tips:
Freeze peas in small portions: I recommend storing peas in smaller (1 cup) portions; that way, you can avoid spoilage or freezer burn of a larger amount.Have peas at room temperature before blanching: We want to make sure that we blanch peas in boiling water for a short period. If you blanch your peas right after you take them out of the fridge, the cold peas will bring down the water temperature, which will result in a longer blanching time. However, if you let them come to room temperature before, they will be perfectly crisp and tender without you having to blanch them longer.
Recipe Ideas To Use Peas:
Vegetable Beef SoupPasta with Mushrooms and PeasMediterranean Orzo Salad
Other Helpful How-To Posts:
How To Roast AsparagusHow to blanch almondsHow To Cook Quinoa in a microwaveHow to cook bulgur
