Are peas high in carbs?

Peas contain 11.3 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, which is higher than many vegetables but still moderate overall. However, only 2.3 g of that is sugar — most is starch and fibre. With 5.3 g of fibre per 100 g, peas release their carbohydrate slowly. They are a reasonable choice for low-carb diets in moderate portions.

Are frozen peas as good as fresh?

Frozen peas are nutritionally very similar to fresh and are often picked and frozen within hours, locking in nutrients. Both are NOVA 1 with no added ingredients. In practice, frozen peas can be more nutritious than fresh peas that have spent days in transit and on shelves, as vitamin C degrades over time after picking.

Are mushy peas processed?

Yes, mushy peas are more processed than fresh or frozen peas. Tesco British Mushy Peas list 'Processed Peas' as an ingredient alongside water, sugar, salt, and colouring — making them NOVA 2. They contain 0.43 g salt per 100 g compared to less than 0.01 g in frozen peas. They also have lower fibre (2.8 g vs 5.3 g) and protein (4.3 g vs 6.9 g) per 100 g.

Glucose: LowNOVA 1

Nutritional Information for Peas

Garden peas are a surprisingly protein-rich vegetable, providing 6.9 g of protein per 100 g alongside 5.3 g of fibre. At 97 kcal per 100 g for frozen peas, they are moderately low in calories with a low-medium glycaemic index of around 48. Fresh and frozen peas are NOVA 1, while canned and mushy peas move to NOVA 2 due to processing with water and salt.

Nutrition per 100g

Nutrient	Per 100g	Per serving
Energy	97 kcal / 407 kJ	78 kcal
Protein	6.9g	5.5g
Carbohydrates	11.3g	9g
of which sugars	2.3g	—
Fat	1.5g	1.2g
of which saturated	0.6g	—
Fibre	5.3g	—
Salt	0.01g	—

Serving size: 80 g (a generous side portion) · Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Glucose impact

Glycemic Index

Low

Glucose risk

Peas have a low-medium GI of approximately 48. Despite containing 11.3 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, their high fibre (5.3 g) and protein (6.9 g) content slows glucose absorption significantly. The sugar content is low at just 2.3 g per 100 g, with most carbohydrate coming from starch.

Processing level

NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Fresh and frozen garden peas are NOVA 1 — they are simply peas, with no added ingredients. Canned peas in water are NOVA 2 (processed with water and sometimes salt). Mushy peas are NOVA 2 as they are processed peas cooked with water, sugar, salt, and colouring agents.

Peas at Tesco

Source: Tesco product page, October 2025

Tesco Garden Peas 500G

NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Birds Eye Garden Peas 800G

£2.49*NOVA 1 (unprocessed)

Tesco British Garden Peas In Water 290G

£0.41*NOVA 2 (processed culinary ingredient)

Tesco British Mushy Peas 300G

£0.49*NOVA 2 (processed culinary ingredient)

*Prices were correct at the time of collection and may have since changed. Check Tesco.com for current pricing.

What to watch for when shopping

Frozen garden peas are the cleanest option — just peas, nothing added. Canned peas in water are still reasonable but check for added salt. Mushy peas (Tesco British Mushy Peas) contain processed peas with added salt (0.43 g/100 g) and other ingredients, bumping them to NOVA 2. Pea-based snacks and flavoured pea products are typically NOVA 3-4.

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