Split Peas that doesn't break down
eleana ilkay
eleana@skillscoaching.com
10/01/05 		Cooking split pea soup has been a real gamble. 50% of the time, the peas have not been breaking down so after 3 hours of cooking, I still have hard peas in broth instead of a creamy thick broth. Is there anything I can do with peas that won't break down?
ellen

10/01/05 		There are a few reasons the peas don't melt:
The peas are too old and are permanently dried out- more than 1 year old
There is acid in the rest of the ingredients- tomato, etc
There is salt in the water: yes, even the hambone can do this with some peas
I cook the peas for at least 20-30 minutes with just the unsalty, untomatoey water or broth

You may notice a difference from bag to bag or from store to store in the bulk session. You want a high turnover for tender peas.

Once they don't break down, only the blender will serve...