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Turns out there is a right way to cook frozen peas. Let’s say goodbye to mushy peas (at least in this context) and hello to a crisp green peas recipe that keeps all its flavor.
I’ve been cooking frozen peas the wrong way forever – and I’m going to bet good money, if you’re reading this, you’re in exactly the same boat. I didn’t even know there was a right or wrong way. We all seem to follow the same pattern for cooking peas.
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.
Frozen veggies are amazing – and it’s not difficult to get the best flavor out of them. Frozen peas are convenient, friendly on the wallet, and are naturally a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals. It’s also a great vessel for getting veggies throughout the year – especially during the winter when certain vegetables are no longer in season.
This peas recipe should be a staple of your veggie roster – and this is how to cook them.
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Ingredients for This Green Peas Recipe
- Frozen green peas: You can pick them fresh and freeze them yourself, but I recommend using peas from the grocery store that have been flash-frozen. This catches them at peak ripeness and ensures you get the freshest English peas possible. It’s also great for your wallet – frozen veggies are sometimes half the price of fresh and last way longer.
- Butter: Oils can also work (olive oil, etc), but I find butter gives a better flavor.
- Garlic: Just one or two cloves garlic will add to the flavor.
- Parsley: I love adding dried parsley. But you can use any dried herbs you like – thyme, basil, mint, dill, or rosemary go really well with the peas. There’s no right way how to season peas, so go with what your tastebuds like. Herbs blends like Italian seasoning and other spices work as well.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
How to Cook Frozen Peas
Mince or grate the garlic. Then in a large skillet, fry the garlic for about twenty seconds in the butter over medium heat.
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.
Chef’s Tip: You can also add any mix-ins you enjoy, like bacon, cheese or other veggies like corn or onions.
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.
Tips for Cooking the Perfect Peas on Stove
Now you know the proper way how to cook frozen peas – these are some of my top tips for getting them perfect, every time.
- 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.
More Delicious Side Dish Recipes
If you try this easy recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
How to Cook Frozen Peas (The Easy Way)
Ingredients
- 12 oz frozen green peas 2 cups
- 1 oz butter 2 Tbsp
- 0.4 oz garlic 1 large clove
- 1/2 tsp dried parsley
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Mince or grate the garlic. Then in a large skillet, fry the garlic for about twenty seconds in the butter over medium heat.
- Add the frozen 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.Â
Storage Instructions
- These 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.
Notes
- 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 cooking.
- 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 the peas are fully cooked and then add a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste – and serve!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
