I tried dried black-eyed peas a couple years ago on New Year's Day when I couldn't find any fresh OR frozen cuz I'd waited until late afternoon on the 1st to go buy them. They took a bit longer to cook than fresh/frozen, but didn't seem to taste any different.

So I guess they do sell them dried. I can remember my grandmother sitting out on the front porch, shelling them from the big apron pocket on her lap, and cooking them fresh, but don't remember ever seeing dried ones, only canned or frozen. Great experiement. I'm glad it worked, except that it's making me hungry for some ... :-)

Roselee, I didn't know they did either, until I couldn't find ANY and asked one of the store clerks and he took me to the dried peas. I bought them thinking "well, no matter how they come out, I guess they'll fulfill the requirement of black-eyed peas on New Year's Day!". :) I still prefer fresh/frozen, though.

For one new years, I paid high dollar for what I thought were fresh black eyed peas in the produce section. Once home I looked more closely at the label. They were reconstituted dried beans!