Frozen peas (matar) vs regular peas: Which is better

Peas are one of those ingredients that sneak into everything — from pulao and curries to pastas and parathas. But when it’s time to cook, there’s always the big question: frozen or fresh? Frozen peas are super quick and easy to use, but fresh peas have that natural sweet flavour you can’t miss. So which one is better for your everyday cooking? Let’s look at what both types have to offer.


Fresh peas: sweet, seasonal and nostalgic


Regular peas — the ones you have to sit and shell one by one — taste fresh and sweet in a way that’s hard to match. When they’re in season, they’re soft, juicy, and full of flavour without going all mushy. You see them everywhere in winter dishes — poha, aloo sabzi, pulao, matar curry, all of it. And because they’re not processed, they just taste more natural when cooked properly.


Frozen peas: quick, reliable and surprisingly nutritious

Here’s the twist — frozen peas are often frozen within hours of being harvested. That means they actually lock in a good chunk of their nutrients. They might not have the same gentle sweetness as their fresh cousins, but they do hold their shape well and can be tossed into almost anything — from upma and pasta to soups and tikki fillings. No podding required, no spoilage stress, and they cook in minutes.


What about nutrition?
Frozen and fresh peas both have fibre, plant protein, and some solid vitamins. Not a huge difference in nutrition, unless the peas are really old or way overcooked. Frozen peas might lose a bit of vitamin C after a while, but they still stay healthy if stored right. Fresh peas start losing nutrients soon after being picked, so unless they’re super fresh, you’re not getting all the good stuff from them anyway.


Taste vs shelf life: here's where they differ
Fresh peas just taste better. They’re soft, naturally sweet, and have that fresh flavour you only get when they’re in season. You really notice it in simple dishes where peas are the main thing.
Frozen peas still work fine in most meals — they taste good and hold up well — but they’re sometimes a bit firmer and not as sweet, depending on how you cook them.

Durability is where frozen peas win. You can keep a packet in your freezer for weeks, even months, and they’ll still be good to go. Fresh peas, on the other hand, don’t last very long. They need to be used within a few days or they start drying out or going bad. So if you're stocking up for the week, frozen is just easier.

The final scoop

If you’re cooking something where peas are the main ingredient, like matar pulao or aloo matar, fresh peas do add something extra. They’re softer, slightly sweeter, and give the dish a more homemade feel. But if you’re short on time or just want to throw something in without much prep, frozen peas are completely fine. They’re easy, reliable, and still taste good in most recipes. In the end, it comes down to what you’re making and what you have on hand. Some meals benefit from the flavour of fresh peas, others don’t need it. Most of the time, both work just fine — it’s really not something to stress about.