PRESERVE THE HARVEST SERIES
Preserve the Harvest Series presents a new fruit or vegetable every Tuesday with the goal of helping you get the most out of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested during peak season. Whether you grow your own fruits and vegetables, buy them at the Farmer’s Market or your local grocery store, it is good to remember the best time to preserve your bounty is when it is plentiful. Preserving the harvest stocks your pantry shelves and freezer with whole foods that you can feel good about, foods that taste great, and this approach saves you money. A sane approach to sustainability! Next up…How to Freeze Snap Peas.
Lets’s Talk Snap Peas
Peas are usually planted in early spring or late summer. They are a delicate, cool weather crop that does not tolerate the heat very well. As temperatures soar, pea stalks begin to dry out and stop flowering. To increase productivity for as long as possible, it is best to plant your peas where they will get some relief from the summer sun. Peas come in three basic varieties; Snap peas (an edible pod with full-sized peas), Snow peas (edible flat pod with small undeveloped peas), Sweet peas (fully developed peas with inedible pod). Be sure to mark your peas if you are planting different varieties, as they all look the same when first starting out. Harvest your peas, like most all other vegetables early in the morning before the heat of the day for best flavor. My favorite of all three varieties is the Sugar Snap Pea. The edible pods snap with crispness when bitten into and the sweet garden flavor is hard to beat. The season is never quite long enough, so I have taken to planting in abundance and freezing these sugary snacks to enjoy for later.
How to Freeze Snap Peas
Harvest your Snap Peas early in the morning and be prepared to freeze the bounty on the day they are picked. Wilted, old pea pods lose their crunch and do not make a good candidate for freezing.
- Rinse your peas, pinch off the ends and remove strings from the seams of the pod.
- Add 4 quarts water to a large pot and bring to a boil.
- While water is heating, prepare ice bath for Snap Peas. Fill sink with ice and add cold water. It is important to plunge Snap Peas into ice bath after allotted steam time to stop the cooking process.
- Once water has come to a boil, add about 3 cups Snap Peas to the boiling water and immediately set timer for 2 minutes. Once timer goes off, drain peas into a colander and plunge into ice water for 2 minutes.
- Remove Snap Peas from ice water and drain. Gently pat dry peas with paper towels.
- Place Snap Peas on flat baking sheets lined with parchment or wax paper, careful to keep Snap Peas from touching. Place in the coldest part of freezer until frozen solid. (about 1 hour). Once frozen, remove Snap Peas from freezer, place into heavy duty freezer bags or vacuum seal, as desired. Date and label. Will keep for up to 1 year.
Preserve The Harvest Series: How to Freeze Snap Peas shared with:
*Creative K Kids: Tasty Tuesdays *Mandy’s Recipe Box: Totally Talented Tuesday’s *Oh my Heartsie Girl: Wordless Wednesday *My Paper Craze: Creative Spark Link Party *Crafty Allie: Worthwhile Wednesday *Sweet Haute: Thursday Sweet Haute *Lambert’s lately: Create it Thursday *Lewis Lane Designs: Tuned in Thursday * the Deliberate mom: Shine Blog Hop *Organized 31: Inspire us Thursday *Living Well Spending Less: Thrifty Thursday *Juggling Real food and Real Life: Let’s Get Real *Happy and Blessed Home: Family Fun Friday *The Pin Junkie: The Pin Junkie Party *Kitchen Dreaming: The Weekend Social A Dish of Daily Life: Foodie Friday *In the Kitchen With Jenny: Foodie Friends Friday *Captain America and His English Rose: Pretty Pintastic Party *Natasha in Oz: Say G’Day Mrs AOK: Mommy Monday Blog Hop *My Pinterventures: Merry Monday Linky Party *Create with Joy: Inspire me Monday *Creative K Kids: Bloggers Brags *It’s a Gingersnap: Motivate Me Mondays *Plucky’s Second Thoughts *The 21st Century House Wife: The Hearth and Soul Hop *Yesterfood: Treasure Box Tuesday *Lou Lou Girls *Craving some Creativity: Tune it up Tuesday
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I love learning something new! Awesome tips. Pinned. Thanks again for being a part of our party. See you tonight! Lou Lou Girls
Kimberly recently posted…How To Clean A Hat
Thanks Kimberly, I appreciate you stopping in!
Blessings,
Shari
This is a great tutorial. My family loves peas, unfortunately this year we were not able to get any planted, we may have to try getting some in this late summer though.
Thanks for linking up in the Bloggers Brags Party, come back soon!
Rebekah recently posted…Our July Fourth Weekend
My peas are just about done for now. My plan is to sow them again the middle of August. I am hoping the timing will be perfect for some big fat fall peas. They should be arriving right about the time my pumpkins are ready. Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Shari
Very nice tips, great clicks, thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop. Pinning this.
Swathi recently posted…Brownie Cookies
Thank you for stopping by. I greatly appreciate you taking a moment to stop in and share.
Blessings,
Shari
You’re so fortunate to have such a wonderful garden. I’ll have to get my snap peas from the market…lol. On the plus side, it’s good to have these tips to buy them in bulk while their in season and freeze for later. Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday. Pinned.
I do love my garden, even when it is a little tedious putting up all the produce. I think about all the enjoyment that I will get from it in the off season. It makes all the extra effort worth it. Thanks for stopping by.
Blessings,
Shari
My mom used to freeze the peas from the garden, and they are great in the winter when you want something that tastes great.
heidi recently posted…The Three Letters of the Alphabet I Hate
I agree with your mom! Nothing better than spring produce in the middle of winter
Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to share. I greatly appreciate it. Have a wonderful week.
Blessings,
Shari
These are great tips!
Thanks for joining the Link Up this week!
Jess recently posted…Link Up #44
Thank you Jess. I appreciate you taking a moment and stopping by to share.
Blessings,
Shari
I love peas! Thanks for sharing how to properly freeze them–I didn’t know.
Also, I love the lighting in your photos!
Julie V. recently posted…Simple Miniature Cheesecakes
You are so sweet Julie. Thank you for for the kind words. I am ridiculous when it comes to taking photo’s. I feel like a fish out of water getting that “just right shot”. Always an exercise in flying by the seat of my pants. Hopelessly addicted!
Blessings,
Shari
my garden is just now starting to produce. Thanks for the tips. Stopping by to pin to our Creative K Kids Tasty Tuesday board. Thanks for pinning up with us.
You’re welcome. I love it when the garden begins to produce. Fresh and tasty things to eat! Thank you for stopping by and taking a moment to share.
Blessings,
Shari
Nice post and great info. It can sometimes be confusing what to do with all the different veggies ! Coming from Pinterest party, have a nice weekend!
Thanks for stopping by for a visit and taking a moment to share. Glad you enjoyed the post. Aren’t veggies wonderful?
Blessings,
Shari
Thanks for sharing this at Foodie Fridays! Now I know what I can do when we get a ton of snap peas from our CSA…I hate to have anything go to waste and it sure would be nice to enjoy them in the wintertime too! We got a huge batch last week and I have a feeling we will this week too…so I am going to be freezing some!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life recently posted…6 Simply Wonderful Starters and #FoodieFridays no.3
I have yet to start freezing because I can’t resist eating every single fat delicious morsel that comes into the house. I have quite a few getting plump right now, so these are slated for the freezer. I need a little zapper for every time I put one in my mouth.
Blessings,
Shari
Yay! Now I know what to do if I get a bountiful harvest of peas!
Thanks for sharing (and for linking up to the SHINE Blog Hop).
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
xoxo
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom recently posted…SHINE Blog Hop #7
Thank you. I appreciate you coming by for a visit and taking a moment to leave a comment. It was a pleasure sharing at your hop and I look forward to coming again next week.
Blessings,
Shari
Great info! I need a new batch of snap peas my pumpkins took over the garden!
Jennifer recently posted…How to Make a Low Country Shrimp Boil
Funny
My pumpkins are only just popping up. It has been a strange year for gardening. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to leave a comment. I greatly appreciate it!
Blessings,
Shari
Sugar snap peas are my favorite too! Our frost period lasted so long we didn’t get to plant our early spring crops this year. We sort of just jumped straight from winter to summer and I am missing my peas. Love this article and I’m pinning for future reference. I found you on Sweet Haute. If you are looking for new link parties, I have one that is live now through Saturday. I’d love to for you to stop by. Have a great holiday weekend!
Ginger recently posted…Pick Your Plum Craft Blow Out Sale & Giveaway
Thank you Ginger. I did head over to your site and I love it. I couldn’t resist joining in your giveaway. Crossing my fingers
Linked up to your fabulous party as well. Looks like a great one and I will be joining in regularly. Have a wonderful 4th.
Blessings,
Shari
thanks for this series!!! I do so appreciate your sharing!
Kristina & Millie recently posted…Way to Relax – Spa Day
I am glad you like it. Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend!
Blessings,
Shari
I just wrote a recipe using fresh peas. And I have to say… your images are beautiful (as usual)!
christina recently posted…Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce
Thank you Christina. Your kind words are an encouragement to me. I appreciate you stopping by for a visit. Always a pleasure
Blessings,
Shari
I love snap peas, best from the garden. Dont you just love how Steve uses words, he creates his own dictionary!! I always read his comments, I get a kick our of them. Have a great day!!!
Yes, Steve is quite entertaining! Have a great 4th of July friend!
I love snap peas! Awesome post
April – My Bizarre Family recently posted…My Kids Do This Often – WW
Thanks April. I appreciate you stopping by and taking a moment to share!
Blessings,
Shari
Shari,
I definitely learned something. I really enjoy snap peas, but I had no idea your could preserve them. I thought you just had to eat them when they were picked. I will stop by and check this out.
There are so many great ways to use them after freezing. Steamed frozen snap peas are garden fresh sweet. I love them!
I love sugar snap peas thanks for the tips 😉
Have a peatastic week 😉
stevebethere recently posted…Wordless Wednesday – (on a Tuesday Ready For Wednesday) What? II
Thanks Steve! Appreciate the visit and the smile from Wordless Wednesday today!
Blessings,
Shari
Again, you’ve done an excellent job in helping people understand how to preserve harvest in a user-friendly way. Bottling aka canning, freezing and drying are things we do also; however, many do not know how, which is why your posts are so important. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thanks Carrie! Next week I will be working with cabbage and teaching how to make Sauerkraut. It is a favorite at our house and one we look forward to all year! Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to share!
Blessings,
Shari
I’m really glad to know how to freeze snap peas. I love your Preserve the Harvest Series! As always, your photography is beautiful! Pinned!
Joy @ Yesterfood recently posted…Treasure Box Tuesday 26
Thanks Joy! It has been great fun and my kitchen is brimming with produce that needs putting up. I can’t wait to share my Grilled Snap Pea with Soy Ginger Sauce on Thursday with everyone. I am ashamed to admit I ate the whole bowlful. They were so good I couldn’t help myself. Fortunately, they are also low cal. No guilt there
Love using snap peas for Asian Stir Fry and will totally need to try your method so that when we do make Stir Fry will be able to use these. Thanks Shari!!
Janine Huldie recently posted…Blog Maintenance – An Important Key to Blogging Success
Frozen Sugar Snap Peas are great for stir fry. Sadly, I never seem to be able to freeze enough to make them last. This year I have a great crop going, so maybe it’s my year!