The effect of temperature (110-120-130 degrees C), agitation speed (5-10-15 rpm) and headspace (4-8-12 mm) on changes of ascorbic acid (AA) and surface color of canned green peas was studied using response surface methodology (RSM). Best retentions of ascorbic acid and surface color were obtained at high temperatures-short heating times. From response surface models developed for ascorbic acid the most appropriate processing conditions are T = 130 degrees C, agitation = 5 rpm, headspace = 12 mm, for which AA retained by green peas, AA leached to brine, and AA lost are 0.8034, 0.1471 and 0.0495 respectively. For surface color the best processing conditions are T = 130 degrees C, agitation = 15 rpm, headspace = 12 mm for which a* value is -5.43, while the best color difference of 11.95 was obtained at processing conditions of T = 130 degrees C, agitation = 15 rpm and headspace = 7 mm. The verification of the prediction models was satisfactory. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.