How to Shell Peas
Many southerners know that big, home-cooked meals often begin with plenty of hands pitching in to help. That way, everyone involved can reap the fruits of their labors as they join together at the table. One of these traditional chores is shelling loads of peas. Of course, one could use a machine, but they'd be missing out on a time-honored tradition. Here is how to shell peas. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Very large quantity of pea pods
- Large containers to hold the shelled peas
- Trash receptacle for husks
- Seating that will remain comfortable for hours
- Good music and/or good company to help pass the time
- Loads of free time
Instructions
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Begin by washing the pea pods thoroughly to remove any dirt and grit that might be there. This will avoid any unwanted dirt falling into the container of freshly shelled peas.
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Soak the pea pods in water for a while. This step is not at all necessary, but some find that the water softens the pods up a bit and makes the process go a little easier.
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Set up a comfortable work space. To get a good amount of peas, a great deal of shelling has to be done, so you'll want to be seated in a place where you don't mind spending a couple of hours. Some people enjoy sitting on the floor with their containers between their knees.
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Snap off both ends of the pea pod. Simply grasp the pea pod with thumb and forefinger, leaving the tip exposed. Snap off the end using the thumb and forefinger of your free hand.
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Remove the strip in the middle of the hull by grasping it at the top with your fingers and pulling downward, much like shucking corn.
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Pry open the pod at the seam using your thumbs. Some pods tend to be a little stubborn, but it's nothing a little pushing won't overcome.
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Rake the peas out of the pod using your fingers and let them drop into the empty container.
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Repeat these steps until you've gotten the desired amount of peas, the pods are all gone or your fingers become too sore to continue, whichever comes first.
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Tips & Warnings
Some irritation can occur under the thumbnails after a long shelling session. Should this happen, just soak your fingers in a bath of warm water and Epsom salt to relieve the soreness.
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Comments
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In my family, we would use a special tool to speed up the process. You stick a straight pin through the eraser of a pencil. Holding the pencil in one hand and the pea pod in the other, we'd use the pin to rip down the center of the pod. Then all we had to do was snap off one end and run a thumbnail up the center of the pod. The peas popped out easily, and it saved at least one thumbnail a lot of soreness!
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Patricia Neely-Dorsey
Jul 18, 2009
SHELLING PEAS It's summertime in the country, And the kids buzz around like bees; But, when that silver tub is place on the porch, It's time for shelling peas. From the smallest to the oldest, It's something we'd all do; At first, of course, the little ones, Didn't have a clue. They'd watch to see just how it went, And soon , they'd give a try; Then look amazed as fingers stained, As though dipped in purple dye. When we'd first get started, It seemed an insurmountable chore; There looked like half a million peas, Or maybe even more. But, after we all got the flow, We'd turn it into fun; We'd have a race to see just who Would be the first one done. We'd each one have our own bowl, and a paper sack; We's slip our fingers through the hull, Then throw it empty back. At last, when all the shells lay empty, And a tub of peas was done; We'd let the grownups take th...
