Help! What has happened to split peas?!
Help! What has happened to split peas?
I have been cooking split pea soup from dried split peas for over thirty years, with and without ham, with and without potatoes; with carrots, celery, vegetarian style and even yellow peas and East Indian style. Suddenly I can't get green split peas to cook down to get soft anymore. I have tried soaking, par-boiling, and all kinds of methods. I am beginning to think that there is something wrong with the green split peas that are being sold now. Has anyone else had this experience?
Maybe it isn't the most earth-shattering problem but we love split pea soup at my house and being pretty much vegetarian has become a staple dish with us. Has anyone else noticed that this is occuring with their split peas? I am a good cook and I have done it for a living. I don't get it.
Answers:
I ran into the same thing with a certain brand- try switching brands. I never soak split peas or lentils- just bigger beans. If you add a pinch of baking soda ( I never use salt) in the water and do the boil one minute and let sit 1 hour routine then cook 1-1/2 to 2 hours they cook down to mush. Add the other ingredients for the last half hour. I suspect they are drying them differently.
WOW, I am surprised to hear this. I too cook split pea soup at least once every week on my job. I have never ever had this happen. I realize your shock and if you had not said that you've cooked this soup for years, I would be asking you how long you are cooking it ? I have never pre-soaked them because it takes a full 2 1/2 or 3 hours to cook this soup properly. I would suggest purchasing your split peas at another location, perhaps they just got a bad shipment in when you purchased them. Good luck, please let us know the outcome.
Jan Gens
Deerfield Beach, Fl
I know adding salt to dry beans adn peas during cooking can toughen them where they never seem cooked. Maybe try again w/o adding salt or high sodium products (ham) and see if that makes a difference.
Hmmm, I love split pea soup too but I honestly haven't made it for quite some time. If you've tried everything I just don't know what the problem could be. Are you getting them from the same place you always have? Maybe you could try another store or go to a specialty type store with gourmet food items, you might have better luck with a little higher quality pea. I really hope you can get this figured out and good luck with your next batch of soup!
Have you had problems with other similar items, like beans? Maybe there's something in the water where you live. I know hard water makes problems in the shower, maybe if you have hard water it effects your cooking.
Sounds like age. The peas not you. Peas, beans and rice all take longer to cook the longer they are store. Could be your store got a batch of older ones.
yes you are right. I think its the quality of peas being sold. For some dumb *** reason we started buying our split peas from over seas (by we i mean america) So my only suggestion is for you to find a health food store, Bristol Farms, Whole foods, wild Oats, Trader Joes..any store simlar to them If all fails buy them online here
http://www.harmonyhousefoods.com/splitpe...
and
http://www.amazon.com/goya-dried-green-s...