How are frozen peas increased in shelf life?
By reducing the temperature of peas to zero or below zero degrees Celsius, the water molecules in the peas are reduced to zero percent activity; effectivley they become ice. Water molecule activity is essential for the functioning of the naturally-occurring enzymes in the peas, so this is how the enzymatic activity is reduced. Bacterial activity is also another cause of deterioration in the quality of peas, however most bacteria cannot function or multiply in freezing conditions, so any damage they might do is then made impossible. In summary, by freezing peas, or most other foods you are slowing down (though not preventing) the natural process of degeneration. Eventually peas will go stale in the freezer, but freezing them is a great way of ensuring they’re at optimum quality for more than a few days on end.
