Sugar snap peas and snow peas are both edible pod peas. They have similar culinary uses, as we often add them to salads, stir-fries, and other dishes. However, there is a distinct difference between sugar snap peas and snow peas.
The key difference between sugar snap peas and snow peas is their pods, texture, and flavor. Sugar snap peas have round, thick pods with a crisp texture and sweet taste, while snow peas have flat, thin pods with a tender texture and mild flavor.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Sugar Snap Peas
3. What are Snow Peas
4. Similarities – Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
5. Sugar Snap Peas vs Snow Peas in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Sugar Snap Peas vs Snow Peas
7. FAQ – Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
What are Snow Peas
Snow peas, also called Pisum sativum, belong to the Fabaceae family. They are a type of edible legume. Snow peas are small to medium-sized, ranging from 5 to 8 centimeters long. Their pods are flat, straight, and oblong, with tapered, pointed ends. They attach to the stem at a green calyx and have smooth, flexible, and thin pods showing the shape of the small peas inside. Each yellow-green to bright green pod can contain up to 7 peas, which are pale green, tiny, and slightly flattened. Before eating, remove the fibrous string along the pod.
Snow peas grow on climbing vines that reach over two meters in length. Harvesting them early keeps the pods crisp, tender, and small. This way, you can use both the pod and the peas inside in cooking. They have a lower fiber content compared to other pea varieties. Moreover, snow peas can be eaten fresh or cooked. They are a good source of potassium and iron.
What are Sugar Snap Peas
The snap pea, also known as the sugar snap pea, is an edible pod pea with rounded pods and thick pod walls. They are a cross between snow peas and garden peas. Unlike snow pea pods, which are flat with thin walls. When mature, the pods grow to around 4 to 8 centimeters long and contain three to nine peas.
The plants are climbing, so a trellis, pea sticks, or another support system is needed for optimal growth. Some cultivars can grow as high as 2 meters, but most plants are generally around 1 to 1.3 meters tall for easier harvesting and cultivation.
Snap peas are commonly served in salads or eaten whole. They can also be stir-fried or steamed. Before eating mature snap pea pods, it’s often necessary to remove the string running along the top of the pod from base to tip. Cooking the pods for too long may cause them to fall apart.
Similarities Between Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
- Both have edible pods that can be consumed along with the peas inside.
- They have similar nutritional profiles, including vitamins and fiber.
- Both can be eaten raw or cooked.
- In both types, the membranous string running along the top of the pod may need to be removed before consumption.
Difference Between Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
Definition
- Snow peas are a type of edible legumes that belong to the Fabaceae family.
- Sugar snap peas are a cross between snow peas and garden peas.
Type of Pods
- Snow pea has a flatter, thinner pod with small peas inside.
- Sugar snap pea has a rounder, plumper pod with a thicker wall. Peas inside are larger and more developed.
Flavor
- Snow pea has a milder, slightly sweet flavor.
- Sugar snap pea has a sweeter and more intense flavor.
Texture
- Snow pea has more delicate pods that can be crisp or tender depending on cooking.
- Sugar snap pea has crunchy pods with a satisfying snap when bitten.
The following table summarizes the difference between sugar snap peas and snow peas.
Summary – Sugar Snap Peas vs Snow Peas
There is a distinct difference between sugar snap peas and snow peas, although both are edible-pod peas. Sugar snap peas feature round, thick pods with a crisp texture and a sweet flavor, while snow peas offer flat, thin pods with a tender texture and a milder taste. Additionally, sugar snap peas typically contain larger peas inside their pods compared to the smaller peas found in snow peas.
FAQ: Sugar Snap Peas and Snow Peas
1. Can I substitute sugar snap peas for snow peas?
- You can substitute sugar snap peas for snow peas, as they are close cousins with very similar flavor profiles. But it’s important to know that sugar snap peas are a bit sweeter and have a crunchier pod.
2. Can you eat sugar snap peas raw?
- You can eat sugar snap peas raw or cooked. Their pods are tender and sweet, and they have a satisfying crunch. Some sugar snap peas may have a string running down the side of the pod. This string can be tough and unpleasant to eat. You can easily remove it by pulling it down the length of the pod with your fingers.
3. How to tell the difference between sugar snap peas and shelling peas?
- Sugar snap peas have plump, crisp pods you can munch on whole. Shelling peas have tough pods that you discard after shelling the tiny peas inside.
4. Are sugar snap peas healthy?
- Sugar snap peas are a healthy choice. They have a low-calorie count. Their high fiber content promotes gut health, and the vitamin C content strengthens your immune system. Additionally, sugar snap peas are a good source of vitamin K, which plays a role in maintaining strong bones.
Reference:
1. “Snap pea.” Wikipedia. Wikipedia Foundation.
2. “Snow Peas.” Specialty Produce.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Snap_peas” By JoslynLM (CC BY 2.0 DEED) via Flickr
2. “Two green snow peas” (CC0) via Pickpik
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