FOOD FACTS

Buying and Storing

Look for smooth, bright green and glossy pods. The stem end should be fresh and green, not brown or wilted. If possible, sample the peas to see if they're sweet and tender.

While peas are best eaten as soon as picked, (the sugar starts converting to starch right after picking) they can be stored for several days, bagged in plastic, in the refrigerator's vegetable crisper.

Preparing

Peas are great eaten fresh out of the pod. But if you cook them, resist the temptation to overcook.

Try them in risi e bisi, the classic rice and new peas dish of Northern Italy. Or the East coast combination of creamed peas and potatoes.

Peas can be wrapped in lettuce leaves with small white onions and braised in butter; stir-fried with chicken or beef, water chestnuts, ginger and soy sauce; steamed and topped with coddled eggs; puréed or made into cream soups.