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vegetable

Snap Peas

Sugar snap peas, strings removed

Quick Answer

Snap Peas: sauté on high heat for 2–3 min.

Cooking Methods

↕ Slide the temperature to see how cook times change

High2–3 min
Medium-High3–4 min
Burner Guide: High heat, and have everything ready before the pan gets hot, because this moves fast. Get the oil shimmering, add the snap peas in a single layer, and toss constantly for 2–3 minutes. You're looking for bright green with a few blistered spots, still crunchy in the middle. If they go army green and limp, they're overdone and there's no coming back. Garlic goes in for the last 30 seconds so it doesn't burn and sesame oil gets added off the heat at the end (it's a finishing oil, not a cooking oil). A splash of water in the final 30 seconds with a lid gives you a quick steam if you want them slightly more tender. Sesame oil, garlic, and a pinch of flaky salt is my default and I've really never felt the need to try anything else.
✎ Sesame oil and garlic. Keep the crunch.

Buy pods that are bright green, plump, and firm enough to snap in half. Skip anything limp, wrinkled, or with visible bulging peas (those are over-mature and starchy). Pull the string before cooking: pinch the stem end, snap it back, and peel down the straight seam. Store them unwashed in a bag in the crisper and use within 3–5 days, because the sugars start converting to starch the day they're picked. I think they're best eaten raw off the cutting board and half of mine never make it to the pan.

Snap peas need less cooking than almost anything else in your kitchen: 2–3 minutes over high heat and they're done. The whole point is the snap, so if they turn dull green and floppy you've cooked them about a minute too long. Below you'll find times for sautéing, steaming, roasting, and grilling, and every one of them is fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best tips for cooking snap peas?
Pull the string off from tip to stem. Best barely cooked. They should still snap. Don't overcook or they lose their crunch.
How do you sauté snap peas?
Sauté at 2–3 min. Sesame oil and garlic. Keep the crunch.
How do you steam snap peas?
Steam at 2–3 min. Bright green and snappy.
How do you roast snap peas?
Roast at 10–8 min. Light char. Toss with oil and flaky salt.
How do you grill snap peas?
Grill at 2–3 min. In a grill basket. Quick charring.