Learn all the tips and tricks for freezing peas to extend the harvest. Learning how to freeze peas is a great way to preserve this delicious springtime veggie without needing to know any special kitchen skills.
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If you have a bumper crop of peas from your garden or fell upon an amazing deal at your farmer’s market, this post is for you!
Freezing peas is like a tasty insurance policy for delicious winter eating. And I’m going to show you how easy it is to do!
Each year we grow peas on our DIY Trellis that we built a few years ago. It’s amazing how many peas you can grow in a 3×6 raised bed, and sometimes we can’t eat all we harvested.
So just like freezing blackberries, freezing cherries, freezing peaches, freezing blueberries, and freezing strawberries, we preserve the extras in the freezer. Check out my complete guide on how to freeze fresh produce.
Can Peas Be Frozen?
Yes! Peas are a perfect candidate for being frozen. They can be used in a lot of recipes like Chicken and Bacon Risotto, Instant Pot Chicken Pot Pie, or Healthy Green Pea Salad.
If you’re out of freezer space, check out our tutorial on How to Can Peas.
Is It Ok To Freeze Peas Without Blanching?
Yes. And no. It’s heavily debated in preserving circles (you can imagine what a raucous bunch that is!) if you should freeze peas with or without blanching. At the end of the day, it is your choice.
If you decide to NOT blanch your peas before freezing, try to use those up within two to three months. Frozen peas that haven’t been blanched tend to discolor a bit when cooked.
Unblanched frozen peas would be perfect for adding to soups or something like this Instant Pot Beef Stew.
Blanching Peas
Blanching peas is a very straightforward process and it’s so easy to do. If you have a huge batch of peas to process, it can seem a bit time-consuming (see the note above about options for not blanching before freezing), but it will go quickly.
Start by bringing a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Also, set up a bowl full of ice water, and place a clean kitchen towel unfolded and flat on the counter.
Add your peas to the boiling water and once the water has returned to a rolling boil, set the timer for 90 seconds.
Once the time is up, use a slotted spoon or strain the peas through a colander and immediately add to the ice water for two minutes. Strain again and set aside to drain.
After a few minutes, gently transfer the peas to the towel and cover with a second clean towel to absorb any additional water.
Tools for Freezing Peas
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Parchment or Silpat
- Strainer/colander
- Reusable freezer bags or wide-mouth mason jars
- Large pot/saucepan
- Ice
- Large bowl
- 2 clean towels
Freezing Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
Yes, you can also freeze whole sugar snap peas and snow peas! You need to remove the stem end and any strings that may be present.
Follow the blanching instructions above but only leave the peas in the boiling water for 1 minute. Add to the ice bath and follow the other instructions for straining, drying, and freezing.
Frozen snap and snow peas won’t be great for “fresh” eating, but they would be wonderful in recipes that are cooked.
I highly recommend using snap peas in place of broccoli in Instant Pot Paleo Beef and Broccoli, this Sesame Snow Pea recipe or to be added at the last minute to the hot broth in Homemade Ramen Noodle Bowls.
How Long Do Frozen Peas Last?
Frozen peas will last in a conventional freezer for six months. If you have a deep freeze/stand-alone freezer, you’re safe keeping them in there for up to a year.
How Do You Reheat Frozen Peas?
There is no need to thaw frozen peas prior to cooking them! In fact, in recipes like Healthy Green Pea Salad, it’s actually better to use the peas while they’re still frozen. Gotta love when that happens!
To cook them for a hot pea side dish, add frozen peas to a pot of water at a low boil. Cook for three minutes and drain. Then you can use them in a recipe like Green Pea Salad With Feta and Mint.
For even more ideas on what to do with frozen peas, check out this guide on Roasting Frozen Vegetables.
More “How To” Posts Like This
- Blanched Green Beans
- The Easy Way to Freeze Tomatoes
- How to Freeze Garlic
- Freezing Cranberries
- How to Freeze Potatoes
- How to Freeze Pumpkin
- Freezing Peppers
- How to Freeze Corn on the Cob
- Freezing Pesto
- How to Freeze Celery
- Freezing Cauliflower
- How to Freeze Spinach
- Freezing Zucchini
- How to Freeze Asparagus
- How to Freeze Onions
- How to Cut a Peach
- How to Segment an Orange
How to Freeze Peas
Ingredients
- peas
- Ice
Equipment
- Colander
- Clean kitchen towel
Instructions
Blanching Peas
- Set up a bowl full of ice water. Place a clean kitchen towel unfolded and flat on the counter.Ice
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
- Add your peas to the boiling water and set the timer for 90 seconds.peas
- Once the time is up, strain the peas through a colander and immediately add to the ice water for two minutes.
- Strain again and set aside to drain.
- After a few minutes, gently transfer the peas to the towel and cover with a second clean towel to absorb any additional water.
Freezing the Peas
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silpat.
- Add the peas on the baking sheet and place the tray in the freezer.
- Freeze for two hours.
- Break apart any clumps that have formed on the baking sheet and transfer the peas to freezer-proof storage.
Notes
- Frozen peas will last in a conventional freezer for six months. If you have a deep freeze/stand-alone freezer, you’re safe keeping them in there for up to a year.
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