Frozen Peas is a handy ingredient to make many dishes at home. Frozen Peas is made by cooking fresh green peas in water along with sugar, cooling down, drying completely then storing in freezer. How to store Green Peas at home is explained in this post with step by step pictures and video.
Green peas is very cheap and in season now…so why not make good use of them?! How does that sound making your own Homemade Frozen Peas?! Frozen peas is very handy and cooks very faster as its already precooked. Yes now lets get on how to make frozen peas at home.
About Green Peas
You can buy fresh green peas when it is in season and store it for later use. Homemade Frozen peas is handy while cooking and also inexpensive when compared to the store bought ones. Do try and enjoy the benefits!
Removing the peas from the pod is a task but when you do it while watching tv or involving your kids to do the task, you can minimise your work. And yes we 3 of us did it and it took us an hour for 2 kgs of peas.
During winters all vegetable shops, markets and cycle vendors are loaded with fresh green peas so make use of them wisely as matar or peas is very cheap during that season. There are tons of dishes you can make with green peas. Green Peas masala, Peas pulao, Matar paneer, Aloo mutter are the most popular ones here in this space.
Homemade vs Storebought
Storebought Frozen Peas may contain additional preservatives to make it last longer and sometimes colors are added to retain the green color. But homemade frozen peas uses sugar as natural preservative and has no addictives or chemicals. So it is always good to go in for homemade instead of storebought ones.
How to store green peas in freezer?
First remove the peas from the pod, rinse it couple of times atleast then drain water and set aside. To a big pot add water, let it boil – then add drained peas and let it cook for 2-3 mins switch off and drain water immediately. Transfer to a bowl containing cold water along with icecubes to avoid further cooking. Drain water and spread it on a kitchen towel to dry completely. Then store in a clean dry freezer safe container and freeze it.
How to use frozen green peas?
Take the frozen peas in a bowl and let it come to room temperature which is called thawing then rinse it well and drain the water. Transfer to a strainer your green peas is ready for cooking. You can saute and cook it along, no need to cook/steam it separately as we do for fresh peas.
More Green Peas Recipes
Frozen Green Peas Ingredients
- Fresh Green Peas – Ooty peas is best fresh and sweet. So if you get then use it however you can use any variety of fresh green peas.
- Sugar – I have used only white sugar so not sure if any other sugar will work.
- Water
Why steel containers to store?
I always prefer to use only steel containers for storing either in freezer or fridge. As in extreme hot and cold conditions its always safe to use our age old traditional steel containers. It is better to avoid plastics, polythene bags or anything of that sort so that is the reason I avoid ziplock covers lately. Glass is ok but it is not safe in freezer / fridge as it may break.
The picture below shows frozen peas after 1 day. When you first take it out from the fridge it has tiny droplets of ice after few mins it looks like this snowy ice covered green peas…Isn’t that cute?!
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📖 Recipe Card
Frozen Peas | How to store Green Peas
Ingredients
- 2 kgs green peas
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- water as needed around 5-6 cups
Instructions
- Remove the peas from the pod, set aside. Discard the peas if it is spoilt and use only the good fresh ones.
- Repeat to finish. I used 2 kgs of peas as it is in season now it is very cheap also.
- Rinse it well twice atleast.
- Boil water in a big pan until bubbles appear. Add 1 teaspoon sugar. Sugar is added which makes it a natural preservative and also helps to retain green color.
- Add rinsed peas.
- It will start to float on the top, one by one it will start coming up slowly.
- Cook for just 2-3 mins.
- Stir in between.
- Immediately remove the pot from flame.
- Drain the water and transfer peas to a strainer.
- To a bowl containing water add icecubes.
- Add drained peas to it to avoid further cooking.
- Leave it for 5 mins then drain water completely.
- Let water drain completely.
- Now spread it over a kitchen towel.
- Let it dry atleast for an hour or until the peas is completely dry.
- Then transfer to clean dry freezer safe containers.
- Close with lid.
- Store it in freezer. This stays well for upto 6 months.
- This is after a day. When you want to use just thaw it then rinse and use it for cooking. You can saute and cook it along, no need to cook/steam it separately as we do for fresh peas.
- Take the frozen peas spread it on a plate and make it come to room temperature which is thawing thenrince i once and you can use it for your required recipe.
Video
Notes
- Flash cooking and then freezing them gives more shelf life also helps in easy cooking later.
- Make sure to use freezer safe containers for storing.
- You can make the same method for all other vegetables like carrots beans etc.
- Make sure you switch off immediately after 2-3 mins. Don’t let it overcook.
- Also before storing in ziplock/any freezer proof container make sure there is no moisture in the peas else it will easily get spoiled.
- I am more concerned to use only steel container in fridge either fridge or freezer but it is purely your preference.
- Shelf life is upto 6 months.
How to store Green Peas Step by Step
1.Remove the peas from the pod, set aside. Discard the peas if it is spoilt and use only the fresh good ones.
2.Repeat to finish. I used 2 kgs of peas as it is in season now it is very cheap also.
3.Rinse it well twice atleast.
4.Drain water using a strainer.
5.Boil water in a big pan until bubbles appear. Add 1 teaspoon sugar. Sugar is added which makes it a natural preservative and also helps to retain green color.
6.Add rinsed peas.
7.It will start to float on the top, one by one it will start coming up slowly.
8.Cook for just 2-3 mins.
9.Stir in between.
10.Done – now switch off immediately.
11.Immediately remove the pot from flame.
12.Drain the water and transfer peas to a strainer.
13.To a bowl containing water add icecubes.
14.Add drained peas to it to avoid further cooking.
15.Leave it for 5-10 mins then drain water completely.
16.Let water drain completely.
17.Now spread it over a kitchen towel.
18.Let it dry atleast for an hour or until the peas is completely dry.
19.Then transfer to clean dry freezer safe containers.
20.Close with lid.
21.Store it in freezer. This stays well for upto 6 months.
22.This is after a day. When you want to use just thaw it then rinse and use it for cooking.
Frozen peas is ready.
How to use :
Take the frozen peas spread it on a plate and make it come to room temperature which is thawing thenrince i once and you can use it for your required recipe.
Expert Tips
- Flash cooking and then freezing them gives more shelf life also helps in easy cooking later.
- Make sure to use freezer safe containers for storing.
- You can saute and cook frozen peas along, no need to cook/steam it separately as we do for fresh peas.
- You can make the same method for all other vegetables like carrots, beans, sweet corn etc.
- Make sure you switch off immediately after 2-3 mins. Don’t let it overcook.
- Also before storing in ziplock/any freezer proof container make sure there is no moisture in the peas else it will easily get spoiled.
- I am more concerned to use only steel container in fridge either fridge or freezer but it is purely your preference.
- Shelf life is upto 6 months.
FAQS
1.What is the best way to store peas?
The best way to store green peas is by cooking fresh green peas in water along with sugar, cooling down, drying, then storing in freezer in a clean freezer safe container.
2.Can you freeze fresh raw green peas?
No its always good to flash cook green peas, dry completely then store it in freezer for a good extended shelf life.
3.What is the shelf life of frozen green peas?
Frozen green peas keeps well for about 6 months when handled properly. When you want to use it just take the required quantity and freeze the remaining.
RAKS KITCHEN
Never knew this process, I froze as such last time. Very useful one
Sangeetha Nambi
Very informative post… Thanks for sharing !!!
Preeti Nambiar
Very useful information sharmi.. thanks
Sowmya Madhavan
Good useful post..
Manjula K
What is the purpose of blanching or cooking the peas for few mins? we should not store just like that ?
Manjula K
what is the purpose of blanching the peas? we should not freeze, just like that ?
Dipti Joshi
Informative post..thanks
AparnaRajeshkumar
pictures are good 🙂
Kadhyaa
thanks for this info .really informative 🙂
Laxmi
useful one.. nice clicks..:)
dassana
i just freeze peas directly and it stays for good for 2-3 months. never tried this method. pics are good sharmilee, especially the last one with beautiful light on the individual peas on the pea pod.
Meenal Ramanathan
when using for recipes should we once again put in hot water & then use it
Sharmilee! :)
No just rinse in normal water and then use it for the recipe. Make sure you dont pressure cook as we do for fresh peas.It is just enough to saute and cook for the recipe…depends on the recipe too.
Gayathri Ramanan
lovely and informative post..
radha
Nice useful post. Thank you.
anusha praveen
An eye opener for all those who use frozen peas that s store bought. Well written
Navya Diwakar
This is so helpful. Thank you so much… Safal Frozen Peas make into my grocery budget every single month. I had no idea that I could achieve the same at home !!!
Rashmi Agrawal
gr8 post Sharmilee…I simply airdried the peas and stored in an airtight jar last weekend…how would blanching help??
Sharmilee! :)
Please check mynotes…
SANDHYA KHATTRI
very useful post, thanks for sharing
Saranya Balaji
very useful one..
JEYASHRI SURESH
My cousins follow this method.very beautifully explained and a very useful post
Sue
If it helps — I've used peas that I froze over a year ago, no problems.
denise
do I need to cook before adding to a salad?
SHARMILEE J
You thaw it first and then steam it for 4-5mins…..
Aarthi
very informative.. having a question.. what will happen if power goes or when defrosting??
SHARMILEE J
I didn't do anything for it….if its for an or so its ok no issues
Mathi
Very informative….how much time should it dry over the kitchen cloth?
SHARMILEE J
Till its moisture free…..
pawan singh (rahul)
using this method for how much time can I preserve it
SHARMILEE J
I've already mentioned it in my notes…3-4 months
Isiaka Isah
How long can peas be freeze before it get spoiled
SHARMILEE J
Have mentioned it in my notes
Udhaya
Very useful one thanks
Gita
Can this be done with dries green peas?
Sharmilee J
not sure