A method for preparing lead-acid battery positive and negative plates for use in lead-acid batteries, comprising (a) providing battery grids, (b) applying wet leady oxide paste to the grids to form plates, (c) optionally wrapping the freshly pasted plates with an absorbent material, and (d) initiating formation of the lead-acid battery plates while the plates contain more than about 5 wt. % free lead in the paste and are generally damp from moisture existing in the paste from the time of plate pasting. Although conventional curing and drying of the plates is obviated and the plate formation is initiated merely hours after plate pasting, instead of a day or more after plate pasting as is the case with conventional battery plate processing, the cells and batteries containing plates prepared in accordance with the present invention exhibit a mechanical strength and deliver an overall electrical performance equivalent or superior to cells and batteries containing conventionally prepared plates.