How to Blanch and Freeze Peas

Freezing is a much better way to preserve the sweet taste and tender texture of fresh peas than pressure canning is. It also preserves more of the nutrients in this healthy vegetable than canning does.

Giving the peas a quick blanching in boiling water before freezing them ensures that they will retain their bright green color and do not turn to mush when you get around to cooking with them.

The single-layer initial freeze prevents the peas from clumping together. The fact that they stay loose is a big advantage when, for example, you have a quart container of frozen peas but only need to take out a cup of them for a recipe.

Equipment You Will Need

• Pot of boiling water
• A large bowl of ice water
• Colander
• Baking sheet
• Freezer bags
• Space in your freezer to place the baking sheet while the peas freeze

Steps for Freezing Peas

Here are the easy steps for freezing fresh peas:

1. Preparation: Set a pot of water to boil on the stove. Prepare a large bowl of ice water nearby.
2. Shell the Peas: Snap off the stem end of the pea pod and pull it towards the tip. If the pods are stringy (sometimes called zipper peas), this step will "unzip" the pods so that it is easy to get the peas out. Otherwise, simply open the pods and remove the peas.
3. Blanch the Shelled Peas: Once all of the peas are shelled, drop them into the pot of rapidly boiling water. Let them cook for just 1 1/2 minutes. Drain the peas quickly in a colander.
4. Chill the Blanched Peas in Ice Water: Immediately transfer the peas to the bowl of ice water. This stops the residual heat in the peas from continuing to cook them. Leave the peas in the ice water for 2 minutes. Drain the peas well in a colander.
5. Single-Layer Freeze: Spread the blanched peas in a single layer on a baking sheet. Make sure that it is one with raised sides so that the peas don't roll off of the sheet. Freeze for 1 hour.
6. Store the Frozen Peas: Transfer the frozen peas to freezer bags or containers and label the bags with the date. Frozen peas will keep for 8 months. They are still safe to eat after that, but their quality will decline.

Cooking Frozen Peas

It is not necessary to thaw frozen peas before cooking them. To enjoy them plain, you can steam or boil them lightly. You can add them frozen to soups, casseroles, or stir-fry dishes. For salads, allow them to thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature before adding them to greens.