Produce Highlight: Give Peas a Chance

We love peas! They are one of the earliest crops to mature in the spring and you can use them in all kinds of dishes. In fact, you can eat them right off the vine as a snack in the garden. And since they are legumes, they are as good for the soil as they are for people. There are three main types of this crunchy sweet spring treat sold at the Chico Certified Farmers’ Market – keep reading to get better acquainted with these sweet peas, please!

Three Types of Peas

English Pea
English peas are also commonly known a garden peas, shelling peas, and green peas. These peas come in pods and the peas themselves are large and round. You want to shell the peas from the pod before eating them as the shell is not edible. One shelled, you can use the peas for nearly anything. They make great soups, go well in green salads and pastas salads, or just eat the boiled or steamed. They are sweet and tender and only take a bit of work to get a very tasty spring reward!

Snow Pea
Snows peas, often referred to as Chinese pea pods, have flat edible pods; the seeds are not allowed to fill out before harvesting. The entire pods are edible and they are slightly sweet. They are often lighted steam or boiled, and are great for stir-frying. Some people believe that the common name “snow peas” stems from their ability to deter harsh winter conditions.

Sugar Snap Pea
A cross between Snow Peas and English Peas, sugar snaps have a crisp pod that contains small peas inside. The entire pea is edible, including the pod. They are best eaten raw or briefly cooked, such as in stir-fries or quick sautes. Though you can eat the whole pod, most sugar snap peas need to have the stringy seams removed before eating. You can usually use your fingers, but a paring knife works well on stubborn strings.To remove the strings, just snap off tough end with your fingers and pull the string along length of pod, then repeat to remove string from other side. They are sweet, crunchy, and delicious raw or cooked (or pickled or roasted!).

Choosing and Storing

Choosing
Green peas for shelling should have green, glossy pods that feel firm and full. Snow pea pods should be flat with almost no visible lumps of peas inside. And edible-podded sugar snap peas should be crisp and plump.

Storing
All types should be refrigerated after you buy them because their sweetness declines quickly after picking. If you can’t cook and eat them immediately, store peas in a produce bag in the vegetable bin of your refrigerator. Wait to shell peas just before you cook them.