We'll tell you and show you how to dry peas at home - a step-by-step guide and life hacks from experienced housewives

Green peas are very popular in cooking due to their taste and beneficial properties. For use in winter salt, preserve, frozen. However, the most effective method of preserving it is drying.

Thanks to it, peas retain not only their taste, but also their beneficial properties. In this article we will share with you the secrets of how to dry peas for the winter, and what can be prepared from legumes.

The benefits and harms of dried peas

Green peas are used in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system and respiratory system. It stabilizes blood pressure and, due to its ability to remove excess water and salt from the body, improves kidney function. It contains beta-carotene and a complex of vitamins, which have a beneficial effect on vision and reduce the risk of cancer.

Despite all its positive properties, the product has contraindications. It is not recommended to eat peas if you have inflammation of the kidneys and stomach. People suffering from peptic ulcers are allowed to eat peas only after heat treatment.

Which peas are suitable for drying?

The taste and beneficial properties depend on the variety and quality of legumes, so the main task is to choose the right peas. Harvesting begins as soon as the peas reach the stage of milky ripeness - approximately two weeks after flowering. More mature fruits lose healthy sugars and become tougher.

How to collect seeds correctly?

Harvesting does not require special skills: the pods are picked from the plant, then peeled and the grains are extracted. For better drying, grains must be sorted by size. Store unpeeled beans no more than 12 hours, and peeled ones - 4-6 hours.

Important. Peas for harvesting for the winter should not be overripe - their taste and beneficial properties depend on this.

How does oven drying work?

Properly prepared grains will greatly facilitate the drying process. The main thing is to prepare the inventory in advance and complete all the necessary processing steps.

Inventory and kitchen appliances

To prepare green peas for the winter, you will need:

• oven;
• pot;
• sieve;
• baking sheet;
• drying paper.

The main stages of processing when drying peas

Harvesting green peas takes place in several stages:

1. Peas must be peeled and washed under running water.
2. Place it in boiling water for a few minutes.
3. Remove and cool under cold water.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 a few more times.
5. Dry the peas on a paper towel.
6. Place on a baking sheet and place in the oven, preheated to 45 degrees, for 2 hours.
7. Cool at room temperature.
8. Reheat the oven, only increase the temperature to 55 degrees.
9. After two hours, remove from the oven and let cool.
10. For the third time, place the peas in the oven, preheated to 65 degrees, and dry for 120 minutes.

Drying of peas is completed, they are ready for long-term storage.

For reference! After drying, peas lose more than 75% of their weight. For example, from 20 kg of pods, 8 kg of shelled product is obtained, and after drying, the net yield is 1.8 kg.

Drying rules

Remember: if moisture remains in the peas, they will quickly deteriorate, mold will appear on the surface and the stock will have to be thrown away. But you shouldn’t abuse high temperatures either - this can damage the integrity of the grain.

Cooking time

Without taking into account the time for harvesting and cleaning the grains, drying peas in the oven will take from 10 to 12 hours. And beans prepared in this way will retain their nutritional properties for at least a year.

Other methods for drying peas

There are other ways to dry peas at home. A special technique for drying fruits and vegetables will help make the task much easier. The main stages of processing do not change: harvesting, cleaning and blanching. After placing it in drying, you need to set the temperature and wait for the process to complete.

It is possible to dry peas without exposure to high temperatures. The beans are sorted, washed and placed in a calcium chloride solution for 3-4 hours. After this, lay it out on paper. You can dry processed peas both indoors and outdoors. The main condition is the absence of direct sunlight.

Remember to periodically turn the product over to ensure even drying. Properly dried peas should be dark green in color. During storage, peas are sifted and low-quality grains are removed.

Previously, green peas were no less popular, but the methods for preparing them were quite primitive. They dried it in the open sun, but this is a long and labor-intensive process. Due to the lack of control over temperature and weather conditions, it is difficult to predict the outcome. Peas can be dried in the sun, but direct sunlight causes cracks to appear on the surface and the grains may collapse.

Storing dry peas

Preserving dry peas is easy. Recommendations for storing it are as follows:

1. Cool after drying, place in dry glass or plastic containers, and close tightly with a lid.
2. Store in the pantry, protecting it from pests.

The main pest for dried green peas is food moths. To prevent damage to peas by insects, as soon as they have cooled, place them in a storage container and close them tightly.

What can you make from dried peas?

Dried peas are widely used in culinary recipes around the world. Thanks to its pleasant and sweet taste, it is included in a large number of dishes.

Reference. Dishes made from dried peas are consumed during fasting - their composition is not inferior to meat products.

We will give you some interesting and unusual recipes.

Lean mayonnaise (pea):

1. Puree the cooked peas using a blender.
2. Separate 75 g of pea mush and mix with 150 g of butter.
3. Add spices to taste: salt, sugar, vinegar, mustard, pepper.
4. Beat all ingredients for another two minutes.

Pea pancakes:

1. Soak dried green peas overnight (1 cup).
2. Drain off the remaining water, rinse, and boil until tender.
3. Grind together with onions into a puree.
4. Add 2 eggs, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, spices to taste, 4 tbsp. l. flour.
5. Fry in vegetable oil until golden brown.

Pea cream soup:

1. Soak 300 g of peas overnight.
2. Peel 500 g of potatoes, 100 g of onions and carrots.
3. Cook all ingredients over low heat for 90 minutes, adding spices to taste (salt, pepper).
4. Grind the prepared vegetables in a blender.
5. Boil the puree for another 10 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh herbs.

Important!Do not eat fruits affected by mold - this can be harmful to your health.

Tips, tricks and lifehacks

Take note of a few tips from experienced housewives on how to properly dry and store green peas, how and with what to use them:

• choose only young fruits - they contain more useful vitamins and minerals;
• Adding nettle or spinach to the cooking water will help maintain the brightness of the pea color;
• Uneven cooking of the product can be avoided if the grains are sorted by size before storage;
• Place a small bag of salt in the storage container. Salt will take away excess moisture if it remains in the product;
• Before eating, place the peas in water overnight. This will help reduce cooking time.

Conclusion

There are many ways to store peas winter period. It can be canned, frozen, salted, but drying is the best option, as all the beneficial properties of the product are preserved. The process is quite simple and does not require special skills.

With a minimum amount of equipment, everyone can stock up for the winter. And the variety of dishes that can be prepared from such supplies will not leave your family members indifferent.