How to Store Peas
Peas are sweetest and best textured when cooled immediately after picking. Use them quickly, because quality drops fast at room temperature.
Best storage conditions
Store at 32 to 36 F with very high humidity, about 95 percent. Keep them in the dark in the refrigerator.
How long it keeps
Snap peas and snow peas often keep 5 to 7 days. Shelled garden peas are best within 3 to 5 days.
Storage methods
Refrigerate promptly in a perforated bag or covered container. Keep pods dry and unwashed until use, and shell garden peas only when you are ready to cook or preserve them if possible. Do not leave harvested peas at room temperature.
Freezing & preserving
Freeze peas after blanching for best quality. Drying is mainly for soup peas rather than sweet garden peas. For canning, use tested USDA or NCHFP recipes, and peas are low-acid so pressure canning is required.
Tips
Use larger, starchy pods first. Store away from ethylene-producing apples, pears, and melons.
General home-storage guidance. For home canning and preserving safety, follow USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) guidelines. Page updated Aug 4, 2026.