Green Peas Preservation Hacks: Fresh green peas are readily available during the winter, but their prices tend to rise as the season ends. Therefore, you can use these methods to store peas before winter.

How to Store Green Peas: As the winter season ends, the price of peas skyrockets. Therefore, people plan to store them at home. For this, you can adopt some special tricks that will preserve their freshness and sweetness throughout the year.

With the departure of winter, the season for fresh and sweet peas is also coming to an end. Frozen peas available in the market are not only expensive but also lack the flavor. So, by following some simple home remedies, you can store inexpensive peas for a full 12 months.

Blanching is considered the most effective and scientific method for preserving peas for a year. This preserves the peas' green color and doesn't lose their natural flavor.

How to store

• First, choose good quality, fresh, sweet peas. Make sure the peas are firm and free of insects.
• Boil water in a large pot. When the water starts boiling, add 2 teaspoons of sugar. Adding sugar helps maintain the green color of the peas.
• Add the peas to the boiling water. Once they float to the surface (in about 2 minutes), remove them immediately.
• Immediately after removing the peas from the hot water, plunge them into ice-cold water. This will stop the cooking process and prevent them from shrinking.
• Drain the peas from cold water and spread them on a clean cotton cloth so that all the excess water dries up.

Packing and Storage

Once the peas have completely evaporated, transfer them to a zip-lock bag or air-tight container. Ensure there is no air in the packets. Now, store them in the freezer.

Caution and benefits

Peas stored this way stay stale for up to a year. Whenever you need to make a curry or pulao, simply take out a handful and use them straight away. This method of storing peas not only saves you money but also provides you with a chemical-free and pure vegetable.

Before the season ends, buy a kilo or two of peas so that you can enjoy the real taste of Matar Paneer and Aloo Matar even in the summer season.

PC:NBT