How can I freeze excess peas from my garden?
Would you recommend blanching them first or freezing them raw?
Best Answer
According to the Ball Blue Book of Canning & Freezing:
Scalding is a critical step in preparing vegetables for freezing and must be done carefully. (This is a "must" for all vegetables to be stored frozen for more than four weeks, except those used exlusively for their flavor such as green onions, hot peppers and herbs.) Scalding cleanses the surface of dirt and organisms, brightens the color, helps retain vitamins and reduces the action of enzymes which would otherwise destroy the fresh flavor after about four weeks. It also shrinks the product, making packing easier.
The recommended scalding time for fresh green peas is 2 minutes. Be sure to have your ice bath prepared for shocking them before starting the scalding to avoid overcooking them. Once shocked, remove from the ice bath to avoid leaching nutrients, flavor, and color.
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Quick Answer about "How can I freeze excess peas from my garden?"
Can you freeze fresh peas from the garden?
To freeze, wash shelled peas or butterbeans and blanch in boiling water to cover for 2 minutes; cool immediately in ice water, and drain well. Package in air-tight containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace, or in zip-top plastic freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Seal, and freeze up to 6 months.Can you freeze fresh peas without cooking?
Blanching fresh peas before freezing might sound like an extra step but the quick turn in boiling salted water: Cooks them just enough to lose their raw taste. Helps them retain their bright green color. Keeps them crisp and tender and prevent them from turning mushy until you can use them.How do you store fresh peas from the garden?
Place peas in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section of the refrigerator to keep them moist. Peas will keep in the refrigerator for 5 to 7 days. Peas that can't be used in a week should be frozen. Peas that are stored too cold or too long will become soft and start to brown.How do you preserve green peas without boiling them?
Drain the water and add the peas to a bowl filled with ice-cold water and let them sit in it for 4-5 minutes until they are completely cooled. Drain the water and spread the peas on a kitchen towel. Let them dry for a few hours.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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