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

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

Thanks to her, peas retain not only taste, but also useful properties. In this article, we will share with you the secrets of how to dry peas for the winter, and what you can cook 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, due to the 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 oncology.

With all its positive properties, the product has contraindications. It is not recommended to use peas for inflammation of the kidneys and stomach. People suffering from peptic ulcer are allowed to eat peas only after heat treatment.

Which peas are good for drying?

The taste and useful 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 enter the milky stage, approximately two weeks after flowering. More ripe fruits lose their beneficial sugars and become tough.

How to harvest seeds correctly?

Harvesting does not require special skills: the pods are cut from the plant, then the seeds are husked and removed. For better drying, grain must be sorted by size. Store unpeeled beans can be no more than 12 hours, and peeled - 4-6 hours.

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

How is drying in the oven

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;
• pan;
• 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 rinsed under running water.
2. Place it in boiling water for a few minutes.
3. Take out and cool under cold water.
4. Repeat point 2 and 3 several times.
5. Dry the peas on a paper towel.
6. Put on a baking sheet, send to the oven, heated to 45 degrees, for 2 hours.
7. Cool at room temperature.
8. Preheat the oven again, only increase the temperature to 55 degrees.
9. After two hours, remove from the oven and let cool.
10. Place the peas for the third time in the oven, preheated to 65 degrees, and dry for 120 minutes.

The peas have been dried and 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, it will quickly deteriorate, mold will appear on the surface and the stock will have to be thrown away. But you should not abuse high temperatures either - this can violate the integrity of the grain.

Time for preparing

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

Other methods of drying peas

There are other ways to dry peas at home. A special technique for drying fruits and vegetables will greatly facilitate the task. The main stages of processing do not change: harvesting, cleaning and blanching. After placing in the dryer, it is necessary to set the temperature regime and wait for the process to complete.

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

Remember to periodically turn the food over to dry evenly. Properly dried peas should be dark green in color. During storage, peas are sieved and low-quality grains are removed.

Previously, green peas were no less popular, but the methods of harvesting them were quite primitive. They dried it in the open sun, but this is a long and laborious process. Due to the inability to control temperature and weather conditions, it is difficult to predict the result. Peas can be dried in the sun, but cracks appear on the surface from direct sunlight, and the grains can collapse.

Storing dry peas

Keeping dry peas is easy. The recommendations for storing it are as follows:

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

The main pest for dried green peas is food moth. In order to prevent insect damage to the peas, it is necessary, as soon as it has cooled down, to put it in a container for storage and close it tightly.

What can be made from dried peas

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

Reference.Dried pea dishes are consumed during fasting - in terms of their composition, they are not inferior to meat products.

Here are some interesting and unusual recipes.

Lean mayonnaise (pea):

1. Mash the cooked peas using a blender.
2. Separate 75 g of pea gruel, 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 glass).
2. Drain off remaining water, rinse, boil until tender.
3. Mash together with onions.
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 potatoes, 100 g each onion and carrot.
3. Cook all ingredients over low heat for 90 minutes, adding spices to taste (salt, pepper).
4. Grate the finished vegetables in a blender.
5. Boil the puree for another 10 minutes. Serve garnished with fresh herbs.

Important!Do not eat moldy fruits, which can be harmful to your health.

Tips, tricks and life hacks

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

• choose only young fruits - they contain more useful vitamins and minerals;
• nettle or spinach added to cooking water will help keep the color of peas bright;
• uneven cooking of the product can be avoided if the grains are sorted by size before storage;
• put a small bag of salt in the container for storage. Salt will take away excess moisture if it remains in the product;
• soak peas overnight in water before eating. This will help to shorten the cooking time.

Conclusion

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

With a minimal amount of inventory, everyone can stock up on winter. And the variety of dishes that can be prepared from such stocks will not leave indifferent your family members.