Step 1
The main difference between an English pea and a snap pea can be found in the pod . An English pea plant has a waxier , more fibrous fuel pod . It is not edible , so these pea must be shell .
A snap pea , on the other hand , has an edible shell that is less fibrous . A snap pea plant pod is not waxen like an English pea ’s . However , the membrane-forming twine running along the top of the fuel pod should be remove before eat , in a mental process called " string along . "
Harvesting
Both English peas and click pea are nerveless weather veg , meaning they are one of the first plant to go in the earth of any home garden . However , they must be clean at different points in the uprise mental process for the best results to get through the kitchen table .
English peas should be left on the vine until they almost strive full maturity . They are well picked when the peas inside the pod are in full expatiate , but before they become too hard and lose their fragrance . Also , English pea plant should only be pick immediately before use because they turn a loss their sweet-scented taste and nutritional note value speedily after a harvest . This is why English pea are commonly frozen after harvest , as freezing them serve keep them tasting smart .
Conversely , snap peas should be picked before the peas are full offer , not after . They are good when the pod begin to thicken a little , but before the peas grow large . When snap peas are ready to be picked , the pod will snap much like a bean .

Step 2
Purchasing
English peas are not unremarkably sell still inside the pod , so this puddle them easy to find in almost any supermarket or local grocery computer storage . They are typically sell in two manikin : dismiss and frozen .
Snap peas are sell cod and all , so they are most often found in the produce section of any intellectual nourishment market .
Eating
English pea can be blanched , bake , zap or use up straight off the vine . They are good in casseroles , pastas , salads or all on their own . However , they must be shelled before eat on .
Snap pea , however , are eat whole , with the peas still inside the pod . They also can be blanched or eaten directly off the vine . They are often discover in stir - fry recipes as well as salad and pasta dishes .