How to Microwave Sugar Snap Peas
Prep Time
1 minsCook Time
3 minsFree Time
to enjoy the April showers
This is our favorite way of making sugar snap peas! Steaming them in the microwave is quick, and easy, and preserves their vibrant green hue and crisp-tender crunch. Perfect for a healthy side dish or a light snack, microwaved sugar snap peas are simple to prep and even easier to cook.
Using the microwave to steam sugar snap peas retains their natural flavor and nutrients better than boiling or sautéing. In just a few minutes, you'll have perfectly cooked tender peas yet still have that satisfying crunch.
All of Anyday’s recipes are tested (and retested!) in many different microwave and home kitchens to make sure they work— and work well. Unless specified otherwise, all recipes should be cooked at full power.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
The Medium Deep Dish
The Strainer
Introducing: The Strainer! Flexible-yet-sturdy clips attach this clever ‘colander’ onto your Anyday dish, making it a master multitasker. Use this strainer on any size or shape Anyday dish.
The Anyhand Mitts
Ingredients
- 1 cup (50g) sugar snap peas, trimmed
Preparation
- Place the snap peas in an Anyday dish and rinse thoroughly under cold tap water. Using the Anyday Strainer, strain the excess water.
- After straining, cover with the lid (knob lifted).
- Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes, or until snap peas are crisp-tender.
Serving suggestions & tips
- Garlic and Parmesan: Season with garlic powder, grated parmesan, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
- Radishes and Dill: Season with salt, olive oil, lemon juice, and zest. Toss with thinly sliced radishes and chopped fresh dill.
- Pecans and Cranberries: Serve with dried cranberries, chopped toasted pecans, brown butter, and crumbled feta cheese.
- Bacon and scallions: Toss with crumbled crispy bacon and sliced scallions.
Recipe notes
- Need smaller bites? Cut snap peas into bite sizes and cook for the same amount of time.
- Sprinkle a small amount of salt and sugar when cooking to enhance the natural flavors.
- Microwave ovens vary, even with the same wattages. Adjust cooking times as needed.
Microwave Match Up: Snap Peas
See for yourself— microwaving broccoli is simply faster, start to finish.
| Appliance | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| Microwave in an Anyday dish | 2-3 mins |
| Grill* | 20 mins |
| Stovetop* | 13 mins |
| Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)* | 20 mins |
Step-by-Step: Microwaving Snap Peas
All you need to know about microwaving snap peas
How long does take to cook sugar snap peas in the microwave?
| Ingredient | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| 1 cup (50g) sugar snap peas, trimmed | 2-3 mins |
| 2 cups (100g) sugar snap peas, trimmed | 5-6 mins |
| 3 cups (150g) sugar snap peas, trimmed | 6-7 mins |
| 4 cups (200g) sugar snap peas, trimmed | 7-8 mins |
| 5 cups (250g) sugar snap peas, trimmed | 9 mins |
It takes about 2-3 minutes to cook a serving of sugar snap peas in the microwave. Sugar snap peas have a tough, more fibrous pod, making them hard to overcook. Flash cook them for less time for more crunch factor, or microwave them a little longer for a softer pod.
Do sugar snap peas need to be cooked?
At the peak of freshness, sugar snap peas are bright green, crisp, and sweet. They can be eaten raw as a crunchy snack or added to salads. To cook them, sugar snap peas are often steamed or sautéed for a few minutes until they are crisp-tender. To enhance their natural sweetness, they can be seasoned with salt or sugar.
How to clean and prepare sugar snap peas?
Snap peas are usually ready to eat as-is, but removing their tough filaments (”strings”) and stems will help with their texture. To clean snap peas, choose fresh, unblemished pods and give them a rinse. To trim the stems, use a sharp paring knife to cut off the stem end. To remove the pod string, use your fingers to snap off the stem end and pull the string down the length of the pod.
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