Frozen peas: 4 ways to freeze green peas for the winter at home

How to properly store green peas

It is not advisable to store tender green peas; it is better to freeze them immediately. Only sometimes there is no time for processing. The harvest needs to lie in the countryside and wait until the weekend. In this case, it is important to provide suitable conditions.

Raw

The pods are stored only for harvesting as a whole. In other cases, green peas are removed from the leaves. If all requirements are met, the product can last in the refrigerator for up to a week. But it is better to freeze for the winter for three days.

Storage requirements:

• temperature from +2 to +7 degrees;
• protection from light;

• humidity 70-80%;
• air circulation.

Which peas do you prefer?

FrozenCanned

It is important to cover the peas, leaving a small hole. Otherwise the product will become moldy. It is allowed to stretch the bag, film, and pierce holes. It is required to check daily and remove damaged, dried-out specimens.

Canned

Opened canned peas cannot be stored for more than two days. The product should be transferred from a metal can to a glass container; a food container can be used. There is no need to drain the liquid. It should completely cover the product. If you do not plan to use it in the next few days, we recommend freezing it immediately. Read about this method below.

Green peas can be frozen for the winter in pods, loose form, or in ice cubes. A successful preparation is a vegetable mixture. The product is stored in the freezer for up to 8-10 months.

Mini chicken pot pies

Juicy chicken pies that can be served in portions. Sauté onions and carrots in a frying pan until golden brown, add cumin, basil, salt and pepper. Then pour in the chicken broth, add butter, flour and cook until thickened. Add chicken breast and green peas to the pan. Divide the chicken and vegetable mixture into the molds, cover with puff pastry and cook in the oven for 35-40 minutes. Try it!

Recipe for mini chicken pies >>>

Selecting and preparing pea pods for freezing

Special varieties are frozen in pods or blades for the winter. They have delicate valves, practically no veins, small peas, and do not grow to a large size. It is allowed to use young pods of other varieties. The main thing is not to let it outgrow. For harvesting peas, brain species are chosen.

Varieties for freezing pods:

• Sugar-2;
• Snow;
• Zhegalova;
• Ambrosia.

Varieties for freezing peas:

• Golden eagle;
• Honey cake;
• Adagumsky;
• Prelado;
• Russian size.

Some types have a universal purpose. These include Ambrosia Peas, Baby Sugar Peas, Crawler Peas, and Alpha Peas. A convenient option - after collection, you just need to sort it and make different preparations.

Preparation instructions:

1. Remove the peas. Or rinse the pods. In the second option, cut off the ends on both sides.
2. Sort damaged copies.
3. If green peas have been washed, they must be dried.

Next, immediately freeze the product or pre-blanch it. Below we will consider these methods in detail.

Chicken sausage with vegetables “Nezhenka”

The most delicious homemade sausage with peas and sun-dried tomatoes. Mix minced chicken with green peas, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, salt and pepper. Wrap the minced meat in the skin left over from the chicken carcass, wrap it in foil and bake for 45 minutes in the oven. Bon appetit!

See how to cook chicken sausage with vegetables >>>

How to freeze green peas for the winter

We have collected the most popular, proven methods. We offer step-by-step instructions with detailed descriptions. We recommend trying several options and choosing the methods that best suit your culinary needs.

In pods

You can freeze special varieties for the winter, see the list above. Or choose young green blades. We recommend making the preparation with preliminary blanching. The procedure will help preserve color and eliminate the herbaceous aroma.

Instructions:

1. Trim the ends of the green blades on both sides. If necessary, divide in half.
2. Place in boiling water and cook for 1.5-2 minutes from the moment bubbles appear.
3. Remove with a slotted spoon into ice water.
4. After a minute, drain into a colander and let dry.
5. Package and freeze for winter.

Sometimes the blanched pods are laid out and dried to freeze the product separately on a baking sheet. Then it does not stick together, and in winter it is easy to remove it from the general mass.

Raw pea grains

Freezing green peas without pre-cooking them saves a lot of time. If you strictly follow the instructions, you will have an excellent semi-finished product for hot dishes on hand in winter. We use brain varieties, pre-hulled.

Preparing and freezing green peas for the winter

Instructions:

1. Pour the green peas into a single layer onto baking sheets with shallow sides. It is advisable that they do not stick together.
2. Place in a chamber and freeze until solid. You don't need to keep it for long, a couple of hours is enough.
3. Pack into convenient containers and return to the freezer.

You need to pour frozen green peas quickly. Do not allow the surface to thaw or become wet. Otherwise, the preparation for the winter will stick together.

Blanched peas

Heat treatment reduces the amount of nutrients. But it significantly improves the taste, gives a rich green color, and saves time in winter. We peel the brain varieties, then immediately proceed to harvesting.

Instructions:

1. Place the peas in boiling water and cook for two minutes. We recommend using a sieve or colander. Then you won't have to catch it.
2. Prepare cold water immediately. It is advisable to add ice.
3. Remove peas from pan. Immediately place in ice water. This will stop the cooking process.
4. Pour onto a towel and dry.
5. Pack into containers and freeze.
6. Or spread out on sheets, freeze, then pour into a common container.

Cooking time depends on how the product will be used in winter. To preserve color and eat raw, just boil for a minute. To add to salads, it is better to boil the peas a little longer, until almost ready, then freeze.

Peas in ice cubes

An excellent way to freeze hot dishes. Instead of water, vegetable, meat, and chicken broths are often used. It is convenient to use silicone molds. Classic ice containers are too small.

Instructions:

1. Rinse the split peas with cold water.
2. Pour into molds.
3. Fill with chilled water and broth.
4. Freeze until solid. The process will take about 8-10 hours.
5. Remove the semi-finished product from the molds, pack it in a container with a lid, you can use a thick bag.

You can freeze blanched green peas in a similar way. When using large forms, whole green pods are harvested.

Vegetable mix

For winter, it is convenient to freeze vegetable mixtures. In addition to green peas, carrots, bell peppers, sweet corn grains, zucchini, and eggplants are used. We recommend focusing on your taste preferences.

Instructions:

1. Rinse all vegetables. What needs to be cleaned.
2. Cut into small cubes.
3. Cover the trays with film. Lay out the prepared products. It is advisable that they do not touch each other.
4. To freeze. It is enough to put it in the camera for a couple of hours.
5. Pack in convenient portions. Return to the freezer and wait until winter.

It is not necessary to immediately prepare a mix for the winter. Today you can freeze green peas, tomorrow corn, then do the zucchini. All this is laid out in parts into containers and gradually supplemented.

Freezing canned peas

People often wonder whether it is possible to freeze ready-made canned peas. Sometimes the can is opened and the product is not used completely. You can send it to the camera, but we recommend doing it right away. Do not wait for fermentation; store in the refrigerator for more than two days.

Freezing green peas in various ways

Instructions:

1. Drain off all liquid.
2. Place canned green peas in an airtight container.
3. Close, freeze.

In a similar way, it is easy to freeze leftover canned corn and beans. We do not recommend sending it to the chamber along with the marinade. When defrosting, it mixes with moisture and spoils the taste.

Quick freezing of peas

The harvested crop tends to ripen quickly at room temperature. After 1–2 days, the grains harden and lose their taste. Therefore, you should freeze peas immediately.

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Description of the simplest method:

1. Place the pods in a colander and rinse under running water to remove debris and dust.
2. Clean the grains. To make the work go smoothly, it is advisable to attract a couple of extra hands to help. The pod is pressed in the center, after which it easily opens and the peas spill out.
3. Place the split peas in a colander and wash.
4. Let it drain - leave for 15-20 minutes. Better yet, scatter the grains in a single layer on a paper towel.
5. It is better to freeze completely dry peas, otherwise they will stick together and turn into a big ice lump.
6. Pack the dried beans into bags or other containers.
7. Turn on the fast freeze mode, if available, or simply transfer the containers to the freezer.

Peas frozen in this way may begin to taste bitter after some time. This can be felt if you use it without heat treatment - for example, add it to a salad. In soups and stews, the change in taste is almost imperceptible.

How to store frozen peas in the freezer

Separate chambers and built-in freezers are suitable for storage. For convenience, the product is added in portions required for one use. A prerequisite is sealed packaging.

Storage containers

It is customary to store homemade preparations for the winter in bags. It is important to choose dense polyethylene. It is better to take special bags. They are easy to freeze green peas in small portions. The packaging locks odors inside and prevents moisture loss.

Other options:

• food containers . Plastic dishes have a tight lid, different shapes and sizes. Easy to match to your freezer;

• jars, boxes of sour cream, yoghurt . They often come with lids. We recommend providing additional protection - place it in a bag and wrap it in cling film;

• plastic bottles . Green peas frozen on sheets are poured into bottles and the cap is screwed on. It’s easy to pour out the right amount at any time.

Trays, cutting boards, all kinds of molds, and flat plates are used as intermediate dishes for freezing. We recommend choosing models with small sides. Then the green peas will not roll down or crumble.

Polyethylene and cling film will help prevent freezing to the surface.

Terms and conditions of storage

The shelf life of commercially frozen green peas is 1 year. The homemade semi-finished product is stored at a temperature of -18 degrees for up to 10 months. At -10-15 degrees, no more than 8 months. It is important to avoid temperature fluctuations. Do not re-freeze.

What to cook with frozen peas: ideas and recipes

Some housewives intensively make pea preparations in the summer, but practically do not use them in the winter. We propose to fix this. Green peas fit perfectly into many famous dishes. You can show your imagination and come up with your own culinary masterpiece.

Meal ideas:

• salads . In winter, the body needs vitamins. Peas are added to any vegetable, meat, fish salads, snacks;
• aspic _ Bright polka dots are a real decoration. Added to aspic of fish, chicken, meat, tongue, seafood;
• side dishes Huge scope for creativity. Long rice, bulgur are ideal; potatoes and other cereals can be used;

• stew _ In winter, they are often prepared with cabbage, potatoes, frozen zucchini, eggplant, and peppers are used;
• soups . You can't do without them in winter. The product is added to all types. It will not spoil even traditional borscht. There are many dietary recipes.

We offer simple recipes for frozen green peas for the winter. Although, in spring and summer they will also come in handy.

Bright side dish of green peas

A wonderful side dish can serve as an independent dish. It will cheer you up in winter, delight you with its juicy taste and elegant appearance.

Ingredients:

• 200 g green peas;
• 160 g basmati rice;
• 2 onions;
• 1 bell pepper;

• 3 tbsp. l. olive oil;
• 3 tbsp. l. soy sauce;
• greenery.

Instructions:

1. Boil a liter of water, add rice, cook until almost done. Drain into a colander.
2. Fry the diced onions in olive oil until translucent.
3. Add bell pepper. Cook for a couple more minutes.
4. Add frozen peas and then rice.
5. Immediately add soy sauce and stir.
6. Cover and simmer on low heat for 5-6 minutes. If there is not enough moisture from the freezer, add a little water.
7. When serving, sprinkle with chopped herbs.

In winter, side dishes with frozen green pods are prepared in a similar way. They look even more interesting in a dish.

Green pea recipes

Appetizing chicken soup

In winter, it is important to eat nourishingly, but without harming your figure. The soup will help you warm up, quickly satisfy your hunger, and the whole family will love it. Any preparation can be used; ice cubes are perfect.

Ingredients:

• 400 g chicken;
• 2-3 potatoes;
• 1 tbsp. green peas;
• 1 carrot;

• 1 onion;
• salt pepper;
• 30 ml oil;
• greens, bay leaf.

Instructions:

1. Boil 1.5 liters of chicken broth. Remove the bird and cut into pieces.
2. Pour diced potatoes into the boiling broth and add salt.
3. Fry onions and carrots in oil.
4. After 7-8 minutes of cooking the potatoes, add green peas.
5. After another 3 minutes, add the vegetables and return the bird.
6. Taste for salt and add more.
7. Bring the soup to readiness. Before turning off the stove, throw in a bay leaf, herbs, and pepper.

If you need to add satiety to the dish, add a couple of tablespoons of washed rice along with the potatoes. Or at the very end, throw in a handful of small spider web noodles.