The Best Way to Keep Purple Hull Peas

Whether you call them purple hull peas, southern peas or cowpeas, if you’re from the South, these peas have been a part of life since you were a child. Growing the purple hull pea is simple, and yields are typically abundant. Harvest is generally 75 days after planting, or when the pods are half purple and full of mature peas. Harvest your peas quickly because heat ruins them. Keep them well ventilated, and shade them from the sun during harvest. If you plan on eating all the peas within five days to a week, bag them and store them in the refrigerator. Otherwise, freezing purple hull peas is the best way to keep them.

Large pot
Bowl
Ice cubes
Strainer
Freezer bags

Instructions

- 1
  Pick through the hulled purple hull peas and discard any that are tough or immature.
- 2
  Wash the purple hull peas in cool running water to remove soil.
- 3
  Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. While you wait for it to boil, fill a large bowl, to within two-thirds of the rim, with half ice and half water.
- 4
  Place the purple hull peas into the boiling water, cover the pot and blanch for 90 seconds.
- 5
  Pour the peas into a strainer, allowing the boiling water to drain, and then immediately plunge them into the ice water.
- 6
  Pour cooled peas into the strainer and allow them to drain for two minutes.
- 7
  Add the peas to a plastic freezer bag and seal it until it is almost closed. Insert a straw into the bag, suck out the air and quickly zip the bag until it is closed.
- 8
  Place the bagged peas into the freezer immediately.

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