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Do you rely on frozen peas all year? There is, in fact, a way to keep green peas fresh all year round! Nutritionist Leema Mahajan who often shares food hacks on Instagram recently shared a way to store green peas for a whole year! This is ideal if you want to buy a big batch of peas and store them in your fridge to be used later.
Leema writes, “Boil water in a saucepan & once it is bubbling HOT, add salt and sugar. Only once the water is bubbling hot, add the green peas & cook for just 2 minutes. Immediately transfer this into ice-cold water. We don’t want to cook the green peas, this will prevent any wrinkles on top of the skin which doesn’t look nice. Once cooled down, transfer them to an air-tight container and freeze them.”
This method is the blanching method and may keep peas fresh and preserve their nutrients. Peas provide vitamins A and K, which play important roles in vision, immune function, and blood clotting. Freezing can help maintain the levels of these vitamins, although there may be slight degradation over time. Peas are also a good source of dietary fibre, which is important for digestive health and may help lower cholesterol levels. Freezing does not significantly affect the fibre content of peas, so they remain a valuable source of this nutrient even after freezing.
Moreover, peas contain phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. While freezing may lead to some degradation of these compounds, research suggests that freezing is one of the best methods for preserving the overall phytochemical content of vegetables.
You can also opt for a direct freezing method if you have a smaller batch of peas. Shell fresh peas and discard any damaged or discoloured ones. Spread the shelled peas out in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze the peas until they are firm, usually for about 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer the peas to airtight freezer bags or containers, removing as much air as possible before sealing. Label the bags or containers with the date and store them in the freezer.
