How to Cook Split Peas (2024)

Published October 21, 2022.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Learn how to cook split peas using these fool-proof procedures that can be used in any soup, salad, or side dish recipe. These peas are tasty, tender, and cooked to perfection.

There are so many different delicious vegetables to cook with in the legume family to include in your diet. My personal favorites are my Ultimate Chili Recipe or Green Beans Potato and Ham Stew.

Split Peas

Split peas are field peas that are commonly yellow or green that are grown specifically for drying. These peas are dried and split along the natural seam, which is why they are called split peas. You can also buy whole peas at the grocery store.

I believe the reason for splitting them is for faster cooking times, as a whole peas can take much longer. There are many things you can use these in, but the most common would be in Split Pea Soup.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Peas – I used classic green split peas.
• Liquid – You can use water, vegetable stock, chicken stock, or beef stock when cooking these peas.
• Salt – I prefer to use sea salt in all my cooking and baking.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Rinse the peas in a colander under cold water.

Transfer the peas to a medium-sized pot with water, stock, and salt.

Bring the peas to a boil over high heat.

Add a lid and simmer over low heat for 25 minutes or until tender.

Strain the cooked peas and use them in a recipe, or chill them to use in a recipe later. See reheating instructions.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Make-Ahead: You can make these up to 1 day ahead of time.

How to Store: Cover and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can freeze these covered for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the refrigerator until soft before using.

How to Reheat: Add the desired number of cooked peas to a medium-sized sauce pot with a ¼ cup of water or stock and cook over low heat until warm. If you use it in a soup like Scotch Broth, you can add the chilled split peas right to the soup, and the broth from the soup will heat them.

More Legume Recipes

• Boiled Green Beans
• Refried Beans
• Three Bean Salad
• Ham and Bean Soup
• Baked Beans