Peas freeze well, but the results of freezing a pea salad depend on what ingredients you’ve used.
For instance, mayonnaise freezes poorly while Greek yogurt freezes pretty well. Regardless of whether you’ve prepared a pea salad and want to freeze it, or if you’re searching for tasty freeze-able recipes, you’re in the right place.
What Happens if You Freeze Pea Salad?
Most pea salads will retain their healthy texture and taste, as the majority of ingredients commonly used for pea salads can endure extended periods of freezer time. There are no particular drawbacks to freezing a pea salad while there are more than a few benefits, so let’s check them out:
Pros:
- You can use a wide range of ingredients and still freeze the salad safely
- Most types of peas freeze quite well
- Extend the shelf life of your salad by months
- Basic air-tight containers are all you need
Cons:
- Its taste will change considerably if you’ve used mayo as a dressing
- Can turn bad quickly if you’ve used fresh vegetables as toppings
How to Freeze Pea Salad
The process of freezing a pea salad is straightforward.
I recommend using air-tight containers with at least half an inch of headspace and placing your salad at the end of your freezer for best results.
To ensure your salad is as healthy and tasty as before, follow these steps:
Step 1: Prepare Your Pea Salad for Freezing
In other words, pick out any ingredients that don’t freeze well. Use a spoon to remove bigger chunks if need be. The main point of this step is to ensure that your salad retains its quality without ingredients such as mayonnaise, rice, or fresh tomatoes.
Step 2: Put Your Pea Salad in Freezer-friendly Containers
Airtight containers are perfect for freezing salads and salad greens. They keep the container free of air, water, or microorganisms that could affect the peas or any of the other ingredients contained in the salad.
Freezer bags are also a solid option, although ensuring no air is within the containers can be tricky. Vacuum-sealed containers are as great as they are easy to use.
Step 3: Place the Pea Salad at the End of the Freezer
If you’re not sure how good (or bad) your freezer is, it’s best to place the salad at the very end where the temperature is usually the most consistent. Poor-quality freezers sometimes freeze food only partially, which typically results in a soggy, textureless mess upon thawing.
How Long Can You Freeze Pea Salad?
Peas can endure up to half a year in a freezer. Fortunately, the vast majority of ingredients commonly used in pea salads can spend at least as much. Again, I need to emphasize the importance of not freezing fresh vegetables.
Even if they can normally spend 8 or more months in a freezer, most fresh vegetables are too moist and will ruin your salad.
How To Defrost Pea Salad?
You can defrost your pea salad with a microwave, or in a fridge. These processes are quite similar, so let’s review each:
Option 1: Defrosting in a Microwave
Defrosting a pea salad in a microwave is easier and quicker, although it’s not the healthiest of options.
Take the container with your salad out of the freezer and empty it on a microwave-friendly plate (glass, plastic, or ceramic). Select the ‘Defrost’ option, and set the timer to approximately 30 minutes.
Observe the process through the microwave doors. In case the salad thaws before the timer expires, stop it and pull the salad out.
Leave the salad for the next 15 minutes at room temperature before eating.
Option 2: Defrosting in a Fridge
Pull the container with your pea salad from the freezer, and place its contents in a bowl. Then, place the bowl in the fridge and let it sit overnight. Although this will take some time, it’s the safest and healthiest way to defrost veggies.
Can You Refreeze Pea Salad?
I’m not a fan of refreezing in general, especially salad greens. They’re magnets for microbes, which will flock to the thawed meal as soon as the last ice crystals melt. If you ask me, refreezing a pea salad is not a good option.
Best Tips For Freezing Pea Salad
- Pick out any fresh vegetables in the salad before freezing
- Use Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise for the dressing
- Use airtight or vacuum-sealed containers for freezing
- Thaw in your fridge whenever you can spare the time
- Refrain from refreezing the salad
Pea Salad Ideas
There are so many ways to go about creating a pea salad, and it ultimately boils down to personal preference in terms of ingredients. Some of my favorite toppings include:
- Corn – its crunchiness and flavor complement peas flawlessly
- Greek yogurt – you’ll need something to bind the ingredients, and this dressing freezes well (Alternatively you could also use Skyr yogurt).
- Carrots – are almost mandatory for my pea salads. Cooked carrots with peas taste absolutely fantastic.
- Cucumbers – not only do they freeze well, but their bitter flavor tastes awesome with peas.
- Deli meat – if you’re not too fond of greens, you can always spice things up with the best-freezing meat, such as salami, bologna or mortadella. (Check this guides on freezing salami, or freezing bologna to learn more about the process)
Conclusion
You can safely freeze your pea salad if you follow the steps and recommendations in the sections above.
What are some of your favorite pea salad ingredients? Do you freeze it in a way I didn’t mention?
I’d like to hear all about it in the comments below. Check out my other guides for more exciting ‘how to freeze’ content.
