How long do I blanch purple hull peas?
How long do I blanch purple hull peas?
If you’ve ever been in the kitchen faced with a bowl of fresh purple hull peas and wondered how to prepare them, then you’re in luck! Today’s blog post will answer the age-old question: How long do I blanch purple hull peas? So grab a pot of water and get ready to learn – your taste buds will thank you!
What tool do you use to blanch?
When blanching purple hull peas, the best tool to use is a stove-top steamer or a vegetable steamer basket with a lid. To begin the blanching process, fill a pot with enough water so that it will cover the purple hull peas once they are added. Bring the water to a rolling boil, then insert the steamer or basket with the purple hulls inside. Cover and cook for 6 to 8 minutes depending on size and freshness of the peas. Remove from heat and quickly place in cold ice water or submerge in instantly chilling liquid bath before draining to stop cooking. This will ensure they maintain their vibrant purple-green color and perfect texture.
How long will purple hull peas last in freezer?
After harvesting, purple hull peas can be stored in the freezer for up to 12 months. Before placing them into the freezer, blanching is recommended. Blanching fully cooked and cooled purple hull peas involves immersing them in boiling water for two minutes, then placing them in a bowl of ice water for two minutes to halt the cooking process. Doing this will help them retain texture and flavor, as well as minimize potential bacterial growth during their time in the freezer. Make sure to remove excess air from their storage containers and label each container with its contents and the date it was frozen. Once frozen, temperature fluctuations are less likely to cause spoilage, which can occur quickly when peas are stored at room temperatures or warmer.
What is water blanching?
Water blanching is a cooking method in which food items are placed into boiling water for a certain amount of time, removed from the liquid and cooled in cold running water. Blanching vegetables in hot water is used to stop enzyme activity, brighten colors and soften their texture, making them easier to freeze or can. This prevents spoilage, flavor loss and excess nutrient loss when freezing or canning products for future use. Blanching also slightly cooks them so when you’re ready to serve, they only need reheating.
When blanching purple hull peas, first fill a pot with enough water to cover the peas with at least two inches of liquid; bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Before adding the purple hull peas into the boiling water, it is important to consider the size of your peas; small peas will only need three minutes while larger ones may take four and a half minutes. Submerge the peas quickly into the boiling liquid; let them cook for three or four minutes for small-sized peas or four and half minutes for medium-sized peanuts before removing them from heat. Immediately transfer of turn off heat and place cooked purple hulls into an ice bath or run cool water over them until their temperature decreases completely; this should take about two to three minutes before they are cooled down enough to handle. Afterwards remove from cold water bath immediately otherwise they may become overcooked!
How do you dry purple hull peas for storage?
Storing dried purple hull peas is a great way to enjoy the delicious legumes year-round. To properly dry purple hull peas for storage, begin by blanching them in boiling water for about three minutes. This helps to soften the peas and remove any dirt. After blanching, you can either dry the peas completely by spreading them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and baking them in an oven set at 200 F until they are completely dry, or you can air-dry them by placing a fine-mesh cloth over a drying rack in an area that has good air circulation. Whichever method you choose, it’s important to make sure that the peas are completely and thoroughly dried before storing them for extended periods of time to avoid spoilage. Once your purple hulls have been dried properly, store them in an airtight container or bag slightly away from sunlight and other sources of heat. Properly stored purple hulls can last up to one year without spoiling!