Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
These are tender, sweet green peas harvested young and preserved in a can, offering a soft yet slightly firm texture with a mild, earthy flavor. Nutritionally, they are a surprisingly robust source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber for a canned vegetable.
People love them for their natural sweetness, incredible versatility in both hot and cold dishes, and their role as a comforting staple in cuisines worldwide.
Canned varieties can be high in sodium, which is a concern for blood pressure management. To counteract this, rinse them thoroughly under cold water before use. Their carbohydrate content may also require portion awareness for those monitoring blood sugar.
The practice of canning peas became a major industry in the 19th century, with the first commercial pea cannery opening in the United States in 1872.
| Water | 82.3 g |
| Energy | 68.0 kcal |
| Energy | 286 kj |
| Protein | 4.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.80 g |
| Ash | 1.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 11.4 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 4.9 g |
| Total Sugars | 3.0 g |
| Sucrose | 2.6 g |
| Glucose | 0.17 g |
| Fructose | 0.05 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.04 g |
| Galactose | 0.14 g |
| Starch | 4.0 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 23.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.2 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 18.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 67.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 106 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 273 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.66 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.11 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.21 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 1.7 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 4.2 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.11 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.05 mg |
| Niacin | 0.98 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.24 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.06 mg |
| Folate, total | 31.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 31.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 31.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 30.2 mg |
| Betaine | 0.20 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 43.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 514 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 9.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 865 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 1350 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.38 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 36.8 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Menaquinone-4) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.14 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.13 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.07 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.38 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.30 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.07 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.03 g |
| Threonine | 0.17 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.16 g |
| Leucine | 0.27 g |
| Lysine | 0.26 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.03 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.17 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.09 g |
| Valine | 0.19 g |
| Arginine | 0.35 g |
| Histidine | 0.09 g |
| Alanine | 0.20 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.41 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.61 g |
| Glycine | 0.15 g |
| Proline | 0.14 g |
| Serine | 0.15 g |
Should I rinse canned peas before eating?
Yes, rinsing them under cold water in a colander can significantly reduce the sodium content by up to 40%.
Are canned peas as nutritious as frozen?
While the canning process can reduce some heat-sensitive vitamins like Vitamin C, they retain most of their fiber, protein, and minerals, making them a nutritious choice.
What's the difference between 'baby' and 'Le Sueur' peas?
'Baby' peas refer to peas harvested very young for tenderness. 'Le Sueur' is a brand name that became generic for very small, sweet, tender peas canned in a light, slightly sweet brine.