How to freeze Sugar Snap, Snow and Shell Peas

Learn how to process and freeze fresh peas to enjoy their flavor year-round! This post will cover everything you need to know including different types of peas and best practices for freezing. 

Spring and summer have a bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables, it’s the best time of year to stock up on all of your favorites at peak freshness! An important skill to have is knowing how to preserve the fresh fruits and veggies so that you can enjoy them year-round! The two methods we use most often are freezing and canning and this post will cover everything you need to know about preserving and freezing peas! Peas have a short growing season, but that also means that you will have a lot all at one time. 

Whether you are buying peas from your local farmers market or have peas growing in your garden, nothing is better than fresh-grown peas! If you are someone who thinks that you do not like peas, it’s likely because you are thinking of the canned, super mushy peas from your childhood. Fresh snap peas or sweet peas are crispy, sweet, and so delicious! Peas can be a fun and crunchy snack dipped in your favorite dressing or hummus, or they make a great addition to dishes such as stir-fries. When freezing peas it’s important to maintain their flavor and texture so you can get a similar experience year round. 

Farm Fresh Peas from Pleasant Grove Homestead 

You can get fresh peas straight from our farm at Pleasant Grove Homestead! Here in Iowa, peas are typically in season from May through June. We also do a second fall planting for harvest in October and November. The season for peas is very short, so be sure to get them while you can! 

Check out all of the fresh produce and other farm-fresh foods such as pork or eggs with the farm store link below! You can purchase directly from our farm or find us at local farmers markets or purchase through local co-ops. 

The three main types of peas

Shelled Peas 

Shelled peas do not have an edible pod, only the peas inside the pod are edible. This is the type of that you see frozen or canned at the grocery store.  They also go by the name sweet peas or English peas. You can eat this type of pea raw or cooked. 

Snow Peas 

Snow peas have a flat pod containing very small peas inside. The entire pod is edible, but it is best to remove the tough string that is on the outside of the pod. This is a type of pea that is typically found in a stir-fry however you can eat them raw or cooked. 

Sugar snap peas

Snap peas are another type with edible pods. They are actually a cross between snow peas and shelled peas! They have a rounder shell than snow peas. They are the best of both types of peas because their shell is edible and they have a sweet flavor like shelled peas. They can be eaten raw or cooked and have a tough string on the outside of their shell that is best to remove like the snow peas. They are great eaten raw as a snack with dip or can be made into an easy side dish! 

How to know when peas are the best quality

When you are browsing the farmer’s market, it is important to know how to look for quality when picking your produce! Peas picked at the peak time should be sweet and crisp. These same concepts also let you know when the peas are ready to be picked in your home garden as well. Here is how to tell when each type of pea is at its peak quality:

Shell pea- The pod feels nice and “full” of peas but the outside shell is still glossy in color. If it is dull and rough feeling it is past prime and will not have sweet, tender peas inside. These are the type of peas that you remove the shell and eat only what is inside.

Snow peas- Snow peas can be eaten at almost any size. They should still be bright green and not dull in color. Some people like them to have the peas inside the shell for their stirfry, and others like to pick them young and tender. It’s best to pick them all the same size so they cook evenly for you. You can eat the entire pea and pod for this type of pea. 

Snap peas- The outside should be a shiny green and feel a bit full but you should not be able to see the bumps of the peas inside. These are the peas where you are going to eat the entire pod as well. 

How long do fresh peas last?

Fresh peas will last for about a week if kept in the fridge. It is best to store them in the crisper drawer. So while peas will last a little while in the fridge, it is best to process them and get them frozen as quickly as you can to maintain their freshness and nutritional value. 

Can you can peas?

You can pressure can shelled peas but freezing peas is preferred over canning peas because they are very mushy canned. There are no safe instructions for canning snow or snap peas. To learn more about canning, check out PGH canning resources here. 

Why is freezing the best method for storing peas?

Freezing the peas will maintain their crispness, texture, and flavor over canning. 

Do you need to blanch peas before freezing?

Blanching is a process where you take vegetables (or other food) and add them to boiling water and then you immediately add them to ice water to stop the cooking process. Adding it to the ice bath is called “shocking”. This process is used to briefly cook or soften the food. This is an important step when freezing peas because it kills bacteria or enzymes that can cause spoilage or affect flavor and it also helps preserve the vibrant color and texture. Unblanched peas can become bitter and lose their sweet flavor so it is definitely a step that is necessary! 

To blanch peas, all you need is a large pot to boil water, a bowl of ice water, and then a cookie sheet lined with a towel to dry them out on. Drying the peas helps prevent them from sticking in the freezer or becoming freezer burnt from too much extra moisture. If you have a steam blancher, you could use that as well! 

Tools for freezing peas

You don’t need any fancy tools to freeze peas! The most important thing to have are freezer-safe bags for storage. Most of the pea processing is done by hand, but it is always handy to have tools like a large stock pot or good knives if you want to slice them in half. For a list of all of our recommended kitchen tools, check out this post here! These are all tried and true and beloved kitchen tools we use often in our household! 

Washing peas to prepare for storage

The very first step in preparing your peas for storage is to wash and clean them. Simply run them under cold water to remove any dirt or debris, or you can soak them in cold water for a couple of minutes as well. Make sure to only do this right before you are able to prep them for the freezer because the moisture can make the peas spoil quickly in the fridge. 

How to prep peas for the freezer

If you wait to freeze your peas in one day, it can feel really overwhelming with the amount of work you have to do! When preparing something for the freezer, instead of doing multiple batches in one day, freeze batches as you go and do it over a multiple day span. One great way to manage your harvest is to double what you make for a meal and then freeze half. This also helps manage your crops because peas need to be picked often (every other day is ideal) so they continue to produce, but you won’t need to spend all day in the kitchen freezing a whole winter’s worth. 

The best way to prep your peas for the freezer to to find a comfortable spot to sit down. Put on some music, listen to a podcast, or even better, do it with a friend! 

How to freeze shelling peas

Shell peas need to be separated and the peas removed from the shell. The pods in shelling peas are not edible. 

1 pound of shelling peas will yield about 1 cup to freeze. 

Step one: Take the pea pod and snap off the tip, pull the string downward “unzipping” the peas from the pod. Some will pop open without the string. Slide your thumb alongside the peas to take out the peas and pop them into a bowl. Discard the shell (only the peas are edible!)

Step two: After you have removed all the peas from their pods, blanch the peas for 2 minutes in boiling water or use a steam blancher for 3 minutes. Toss halfway through. Move them to an ice bath for three minutes.

Step three: Drain as much water as possible and lay on a towel-lined pan to dry. Use a tea towel or paper towels on a baking sheet to absorb all the liquid and help the peas dry. You can also use a salad spinner here to easily remove the water. 

Step four: Add the peas to a freezer bag and add to the freezer! They come apart easily so there is no need to flash-freeze.

How to freeze Snow and Snap peas

Step one: Remove the stem cap and string if they are stringed peas. You can leave the pods intact because they are edible! You can leave the pea pods whole, or if you want to cut them in half for smaller portions you can do that as well. 

Step two: Next, you will need to blanch the peas. If you are using a steam blancher, you will steam blanch for 3 minutes, tossing around about 90 seconds in. If you don’t own a steam basket, you can bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil and add the peas in. Leave them in the water for two minutes and then remove. Whichever method you use, you will then add the peas to a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes and then remove from water.

Step three: Drain as much water as possible from the peas and put on a towel-lined pan to dry. You can use a clean kitchen towel or paper towels for this. 

Step four: After the peas have dried you will then pack them into freezer bags. You can flash freeze if you want to store it in a gallon-sized bag. I find that if you store in a smaller quart-sized freezer bag you can skip the flash freezing because they do not stick together too much. A one-quart bag is the perfect size to use for a meal, so I find these small portions to be the perfect size for our family. 

How to flash freeze

If you want to flash freeze or if you have trouble with the peas sticking together, it is simple to do! It’s just one extra step. 

To flash freeze, add your peas to a cookie sheet and lay them in a single layer. Then add the cookie sheet to the freezer and let the peas freeze for a day. After the peas are frozen you can take them and add to a freezer safe bag. Freezing the peas separately like this helps prevent them from sticking together and creating one big frozen ball. This method is really helpful when freezing vegetables and fruits or berries! 

How long are frozen peas good for?

Peas will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 8 months. To maximize their shelf life in the freezer, be sure to use freezer bags with thick lining and a tight closure. If you use bags that do not seal up right the peas will become freezer burned. To further prevent this from happening do your best to remove as much air as you can from the bag when bagging the peas. You could also use a vacuum sealer to help prevent the freezer burn by removing all of the excess air. 

What is the best way to eat frozen peas?

While raw peas are delicious when they are fresh, they are not so great after they have been frozen! They become limp when they are thawed and not the crisp pea texture like they are when fresh. It is best to eat frozen peas cooked. They are really delicious sautéed with salt and butter for a simple side dish. Shelled peas can be added to casseroles or are great steamed in better. Snap or snow peas can be easily tossed in a stir fry or other veggie-forward dishes. 

Favorite way to eat frozen peas  

Our family’s favorite way to eat frozen snap or snow peas is in a simple stir fry with chicken! This recipe is so easy to make and the flavors pair so well with the sweetness of the peas. All you need is some coconut aminos, garlic, ginger, and some cornstarch to thicken. This recipe is written for sugar snap peas, but you can easily substitute for snow peas or even shelled peas if that is what you have on hand.