Peas
Peak sweetness lasts only days — cook peas quickly or eat them raw straight from the pod.
Store in
Fridge unwashed, in the pod if possible
Keeps for
3–5 days sugars convert to starch — use them early
Best eaten
Lightly cooked or raw — sweet, tender, and bright green
Prep tip
Quick cook 2–3 minutes max or they turn starchy
What It Is
Section titled “What It Is”Peas are a brief cool-season crop at Cold Springs Organics, appearing in the spring and sometimes in early fall. Depending on the season, the box may contain shelling peas (pop the pod and eat the peas inside), snap peas (eat pod and all), or snow peas (flat pods eaten whole). All three are at their best eaten within a few days of harvest — the natural sugars convert to starch quickly after picking, which is why farm-fresh peas taste so much better than frozen or store-bought.
How to Store It
Section titled “How to Store It”Refrigerate in the pod, unwashed, in a loosely sealed bag or container. Use within 3–5 days. The shorter the time between pod and pan, the sweeter the peas. Shelled peas can be frozen: blanch for 90 seconds, cool in ice water, pat dry, and freeze flat in a bag.
How to Prep It
Section titled “How to Prep It”Shelling peas — pinch the stem end and pull the string down the seam to open the pod; press the pods open and run your thumb down the inside to pop the peas out. Discard the pods.
Snap and snow peas — snap off the stem end and pull to remove any tough string along the top seam. Eat the pod whole. No further prep needed.
How to Cook It
Section titled “How to Cook It”- Blanched — cook peas in salted boiling water for 2–3 minutes (shelling peas) or 60–90 seconds (snap/snow peas), then immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking and lock in the bright green colour.
- Sautéed — cook snap or snow peas in a hot pan with butter or olive oil and garlic for 2–3 minutes over high heat; they should stay crisp.
- Raw — snap and snow peas are excellent eaten raw as a snack or in salads; shelling peas can also be eaten raw when very fresh and sweet.
- Pasta or risotto — stir fresh or blanched peas into pasta with butter and parmesan, or into risotto in the final minutes of cooking.
Quick Meal Idea
Section titled “Quick Meal Idea”Peas with butter and mint — blanch shelling peas in salted boiling water for 2 minutes, drain, and toss immediately with a generous knob of butter, a pinch of salt, and a tablespoon of finely chopped fresh mint. Serve alongside anything — grilled fish, roast chicken, or simply on toast.