Snap Peas overview

How to Prepare Snap Peas for Baby

Snap Peas is safe for babies from 6 months old. How you prepare it changes as your baby grows. Here is exactly what to do at each stage.

Choking risk: low

Low choking risk with appropriate preparation. Always supervise mealtimes.

Flavor guide

Raw snap peas are intensely sweet and crisp with a clean, grassy freshness and a satisfying crunch that makes them appealing straight from the garden. Brief cooking softens the pod and mellows the sharpness while preserving much of the natural sweetness, though the fibrous pod texture becomes chewy rather than tender. The inner peas have a mildly starchy, buttery flavor that pairs naturally with mint, lemon, butter, garlic, parmesan, and ginger.

1

6 to 8 months

Steam until very soft (the pod should be completely limp). Whole pod works as a finger food - baby can gum the soft pod and squeeze out peas. Remove tough strings.

Serving ideas

  • -Remove strings, steam until very soft, and open pods to serve the peas inside
  • -Puree cooked snap peas with mint or potato
  • -Mash cooked peas onto a preloaded spoon
2

9 to 11 months

Soft steamed pods cut into pieces, or fresh peas popped out for pincer grip.

Serving ideas

  • -Steam, remove strings, and cut pods into small pieces
  • -Mix cooked peas into pasta or rice
  • -Stir into a mild stir-fry
3

12+ months

Raw (strings removed) as a snack, in salads, stir-fries, or with dips.

Serving ideas

  • -Serve lightly steamed snap peas as finger food (strings removed)
  • -Add to stir-fries with soft tofu
  • -Serve with hummus for dipping

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Freezing Snap Peas for baby

Remove strings and trim ends. Blanch whole pods for 2 minutes, transfer to an ice bath, drain, then freeze in a single layer before bagging.

Blanch for 2 minutes before freezing. Keeps for up to 12 months.

Snap Pea and Mint Puree

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -1 cup snap peas, strings removed
  • -2 tbsp fresh mint leaves
  • -1 tsp unsalted butter
  • -2 to 4 tbsp water

Steps

  1. Remove strings from snap peas by snapping off the tip and pulling toward the flat side.
  2. Steam snap peas for 5 to 7 minutes until the pods and inner peas are completely soft and easy to squish.
  3. Transfer to a blender with mint, butter, and 2 tablespoons water.
  4. Blend until very smooth, adding water one tablespoon at a time for a loose, spoonable consistency.
  5. Cool to room temperature before serving on a preloaded spoon.

Whole or halved snap peas remain a choking hazard until about 18 months. For babies, always puree or open the pods and serve only the inner peas, mashed flat.

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Growing Snap Peas at home?

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Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods.