Once they are brown and feel dry, that’s when you know they are ready to harvest.
- Snap the seed pod off of the plant.
- Break the seed pod down open right down the middle.
- Remove the small seeds, let them dry, then store in a paper envelope.
How do you store fresh picked black-eyed peas?
Wait to harvest until the pods are dry, brown, and you can see the beans almost bursting through the pods. Shell the pods and allow the peas to dry thoroughly. Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for at least a year.
How do you preserve black-eyed peas?
Freeze the peas for about 45 minutes. Pack the frozen peas into freezer containers with about 1/2-inch of headspace or pack them into heavy-duty freezer bags. Label with name and date, and store in the freezer for up to 9 months. One pound of shelled peas will yield about 1 pint frozen.
How do you tell when black-eyed peas are ready to pick?
Black-eyed peas can be harvested as a snap bean in about 70 days. To harvest them as dried beans, you will need to wait a little longer, from 80 to 100 days. For shelling peas, harvest when the pods are full and you can see the beans swelled inside the pods. For dry beans, leave the pods on the vines to dry completely.
How long can you keep dry black-eyed peas?
Dried black-eyed peas should be stored an in airtight container for up to a year. Cooked black-eyed peas can be stored in the fridge for three to four days.
Can you freeze fresh black-eyed peas without blanching?
If, however, you find yourself with a bountiful harvest of fresh peas and no time to blanch, you can freeze fresh peas without blanching them first. You should use unblanched frozen peas within four to six weeks of freezing; they lose color, flavor and nutrition the longer they are stored. Shell the peas.
Do you have to blanch fresh black-eyed peas before freezing?
To freeze, wash shelled peas or butterbeans and blanch in boiling water to cover for 2 minutes; cool immediately in ice water, and drain well. Package in air-tight containers, leaving 1/2-inch headspace, or in zip-top plastic freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Seal, and freeze up to 6 months.
Do black-eyed peas freeze well?
For best taste, use them within 1 year of receiving them. Cooked peas can be frozen or refrigerated. Freeze cooked black-eyed peas in a shallow (no more than 3 inches deep) airtight container and use within 6 months.
Why do you soak black-eyed peas?
According to The New York Times, soaked beans cook faster and are easier to digest. Adding salt to the brine speeds up cooking even more, since the salt breaks down the bean’s tough skin.
What kind of bugs are in black-eyed peas?
The most common foliage feeding insects that attack black-eyed peas are beet armyworms, loopers and grasshoppers. The list of pod-feeding insects includes podworms (known in other fields as cotton bollworms or corn earworms), lygus bugs and stinkbugs.
Do you have to shell black-eyed peas?
You can use the black-eyed peas in their pods as a substitute for snap beans in any recipe. If you want to eat the individual peas, shell the black-eyed peas by pulling the pods open. Use your thumb to push the peas out of the pod and into a bowl.
Can you eat black eyed pea leaves?
Black eyed pea leaves can be eaten! Sweet potato leaves, okra leaves, are also edible! In West Africa cassava leaves join these as traditional vegetables along with wild and other cultivated greens! Black eyed peas symbolize the eye of G-d.
What time of year are black-eyed peas harvested?
Black-eyed peas will typically mature 60-90 days after planting. Depending on the variety, black-eyed peas can be harvested for several days or weeks. Pick peas as soon as the pods are 3-4 inches long. Carefully remove pods from the vine with scissors or a knife to avoid shocking the plant into non-production.
Do you soak black-eyed peas in hot or cold water?
Soaking is not essential for black-eyed peas, but cooking time can be shortened if they get a quick soak in hot water (as opposed to a longer one in cold water, like other beans). Place dried peas in a pot, cover with water, and bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove pot from heat and allow to stand for 60-90 minutes.
Should you soak black-eyed peas overnight before cooking?
If you’re cooking dried beans in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, they cook up incredibly quickly whether you soak them or not. If you are cooking black-eyed peas on the stovetop, soaking them overnight will definitely save you some cooking time.
Can you freeze dried black-eyed peas?
They will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When ready to use your frozen black-eyed peas, remove them from the freezer and thaw.
How do you store peas long term?
Take chilled water in another vessel and place these green peas into it. When the peas cool down, strain the peas again through a sieve and remove the excess water. Fill up these green peas in small polythene bags and place them in refrigerator. These preserved peas remain fresh for long.
How do you preserve fresh peas at home?
Since they have a short shelf-like, I find that the best way to store peas is to shell them first and then blanch them for a few minutes before storing them in the freezer.
Why do you blanch peas before freezing?
Giving the peas a quick blanching in boiling water before freezing them ensures that they will retain their bright green color and do not turn to mush when you get around to cooking with them. The single-layer initial freeze prevents the peas from clumping together.
How do you preserve peas without freezing them?
Drying shelled peas (or beans)
To dry indoors, preheat oven or food dehydrator to 130°F to 140°F. Prepare, blanch, and drain shelled peas or beans; pat dry before placing on drying trays. Dry until vegetables rattle. Cool until no longer warm and then store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place up to 2 months.
Can you freeze fresh peas raw?
Freezing is one of the best methods to preserve fresh peas, especially if you have a bumper crop and cannot keep up with them. When harvest time comes, you may end up with an overabundance of these nutritious vegetables, and you and your family may get tired of eating them at every meal.