Peas to Shell or not to Shell!

I posted this last year but it still worth re-reading as it has great information about the different peas we might get in our share.  We are getting sugar snaps in week one this year!

I know we will be getting different peas in our share so I thought it was important to know what the difference is between them.  

Snow, snap, and garden peas are all climbing plants and members of the legume family, but there are subtle differences between the three. Here's a guide on what they look and taste like.

Snow Peas

Snow peas are also known as Chinese pea pods since they are often used in stir-fries. They are flat with very small peas inside, and the whole pod is edible although the tough "strings" along the edges are usually removed before eating. Snow peas are mildly flavored and can be served raw or cooked. To store them, refrigerate in a plastic bag, do not wash until ready to use.  To freeze:  Wash thoroughly, remove stems and leave peas whole.  Blanch for 1 1/2 minutes and chill quickly in ice cold water.  Drain off excess moisture, package in airtight containers or freezer bags and freeze immediately.

Garden Peas

Garden Peas are also sometimes called sweet peas or English peas. The pods are firm and rounded, and the round peas inside need to removed, or shelled, before eating (the pods are discarded). The peas are sweet and and may be eaten raw or cooked, and these are the common peas that are sold shelled and frozen. Peas

get starchy and mealy as they get larger or if they are not cooked quickly after they are picked.  Use them quickly or freeze them. Peas don’t have much of a shelf life, so I don’t recommend storing them —in their pods or shelled—for very long. Store pods in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator and use them within a couple of days. Once they’re shelled, the best way to store peas is to freeze them. First blanch them for a minute or two in boiling salted water and then shock them in an ice-water bath until cool, to help maintain their bright color. Drain and freeze them in zip-top bags. They will keep for five to six months.

Snap Peas

Snap peas are also known as sugar snap peas, and are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. The whole pod is eaten and has a crunchy texture and very sweet flavor. Snap peas may be eaten raw or cooked. There may be tough "strings" at the seams of the pods that need to be removed before being eaten, but stringless varieties are also now available.   Refrigerate in a tightly sealed plastic bag. They'll last four or five days.

Want to eat them today?  Chop some chives and shallots and stir them into prepared mayonnaise. Combine cooked, shelled shrimp in a bowl with a couple handfuls of sugar snaps, and stir in just enough of the mayonnaise to lightly bind them. That's dinner.

For more recipes using peas:  The Kitchn

Sources  www.stilltasty.com and www.sharecare.com