Open a packet of frozen green peas, pour it into a pan of water, and boil until ready. Simple, right? Wrong! The perfect way to bring frozen peas to life ISN’T by boiling them. If you were just as surprised as me, this guide to the best way to cook frozen peas is for you. This peas recipe should be a staple of your veggie roster – and this is how to cook them. And if you have a whole lot of frozen peas, you might enjoy them in this warming green pea soup or comforting pea stew. Add the peas (straight out of the freezer) and dried parsley. Cook with the garlic and butter for about five minutes and stir them occasionally. Season well with salt and pepper to taste and serve. Sauteed green peas are at their freshest when eaten immediately after cooking. However, if you want to store them, allow them to cool completely before putting them into air-tight containers (shallow ones work best). Keep them in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Don’t boil them! It might seem like the easiest method for cooking frozen peas, but my recipe is much friendlier to the frozen vegetable – and tastes better too. Boiling can pull out the nutrients from the peas and change their color and texture. Cook the frozen peas WITHOUT defrosting them. It might sound strange, but the peas are at their peak point of ripeness when frozen and so have all the goodness locked in. Allowing them to defrost exposes them to water – making it more likely they’ll turn mushy during the cooking process. Don’t be tempted to add salt until you’re ready to serve. Salt can remove water from the peas and change their taste. Wait until your frozen peas are fully cooked and then add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste – and serve! These frozen garden peas are already sweet enough, but you can add a pinch of sugar if you prefer an even sweeter taste. It sounds weird, but it makes sense once you try it. Ignore the packaging! Most frozen pea packages will tell you boiling is the only way how to cook peas – it’s not true.
