How to Cook Snap Peas

Snap peas are peas that are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. They are bright green and contain a pod that holds peas inside. They have a crispy texture and a slightly sweet taste. You can eat these vegetables raw or you can prepare them different ways. Two ways to cook snap peas are by sautéing or by steaming. However, to make sure they hold their crispy texture, it is important to cook them for a short time. If you want to master the different methods of cooking snap peas, see Step 1 below to get started.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Boiling Snap Peas

  1. Image titled Cook Snap Peas Step 1
    1
    Wash the snap peas in a colander with cold water. Take them out of the sink and place them inside a paper towel. Use a blotting motion to dry them.
  2. 2
    Inspect the snap peas. Remove any snap peas that have too many blemishes on them or cut off the blemishes and preserve the remaining snap pea.
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  3. 3
    Place the snap peas on the cutting board. Chop off the ends of the snap peas on each side.
  4. 4
    Fill a 3-quart (2839 ml) pot with water. Place the water on the stove. Adjust the temperature on the stove so it begins to boil. Once you notice steam coming from the pot, place the snap peas inside a netted steamer. Place the netted steamer inside the pot so it is submerged in the boiling water.
  5. 5
    Cover the pot with the lid. Leave the snap peas on the stove and inside the pot to allow the hot water to boil and cook the peas.
  6. Image titled Cook Snap Peas Step 6
    6
    Wait 5 minutes. Remove the pot from the stove and place it on a cooling rack.
  7. 7
    Remove the netted steamer with the peas from inside the pot. Place the snap peas on a dish. Place a spoonful of butter onto the peas. Season the peas with a dash of salt and pepper.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Sautéing Snap Peas

  1. Image titled Cook Snap Peas Step 8
    1
    Prepare the snap peas by properly washing them and cleaning them. Place them in a medium sized bowl.
  2. 2
    Set a non-stick sauté pan onto the stove. Place a few spoonfuls of butter into the pan. Set the temperature on medium heat.
  3. 3
    Allow the pan to heat up. Once the butter begins to sizzle, place the snap peas in the pan.
  4. 4
    Add a dash of salt and a dash of pepper to the snap peas as they cook. Move the snap peas around using a non-stick utensil. Cook the peas for 1 to 2 minutes until they are done.
  5. 5
    Remove the pan from the stove. Place the pan on a cooling rack or potholder. Remove the peas from the pan and place them onto a plate.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Can I microwave snap peas?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can.
  • Question
    How do I prepare fresh vegatables for an 8-month-old baby?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Steam the vegetables until softened, then puree using a blender or food mill.
  • Question
    When microwaving the snap peas, I noticed that some of the pods were tough and stringy. Others were OK. Any suggestions for this? Maybe microwaving longer?
    Donagan
    Donagan
    Top Answerer
    The toughness of pods is related to their age. Water-boiling or microwaving can help, but some may be too old to eat.
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Things You'll Need

  • Snap peas
  • Colander
  • Cold water
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • 3 quart (2839 ml) pot
  • Netted steamer
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Medium bowl
  • Non-stick pan
  • Butter
  • Non-stick utensil
  • Potholder or cooling rack

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References

  1. http://www.everydayguide.com/how-to-cook-snap-peas/
  2. http://www.recipetips.com/kitchen-tips/t--1141/all-about-peas.asp

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 306,660 times.
1 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 12
Updated: May 27, 2021
Views: 306,660
Categories: Food Preparation | Fruits and Vegetables
Article SummaryX

To cook snap peas, start by cutting off the blemishes or removing any peas with too many blemishes. Then, rinse the peas under cold running water, chop off the ends on each side, and place the peas in a netted steamer. Next, boil 3 quarts of water in a pot, place the steamer inside once you notice steam coming from the pot, then cover with the lid and cook for 5 minutes. Finally, take the pot off the stove and let it cool for 5 minutes before removing the steamer. To learn more, including how to saute your snap peas in butter, scroll down.

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