Beans vs. Peas

Main Difference

The main difference between Beans and Peas is that Beans are kidney or oval shape seeds, whereas Peas are round or spherical shape seeds.

Difference Between Beans and Peas

Comparison Chart

Beans vs. Peas

Beans generally belong to family Leguminosae under different genera of Fabaceae, whereas peas generally comprise of seeds and pods of Pisum genera. Beans use their vine to twin around the support; on the other hand, peas use another specific structure tendrils only seen in peas to twin around the support.

Beans are divided into two categories based on their color, which are red beans and white beans, while peas are not categorized depending on their color. Beans can be consumed both as dried and fresh beans; on the contrary, only dry peas are often consumed. Beans are summer crops and require the warm temperature to grow; on the flip side, peas are seasonally cropped from winter to early summer and can be grown worldwide depending upon location.

Beans have harmful effects on human health, particularly kidney-shaped red beans, which contain toxic substance Lectin phytohaemagglutinin, which causes bloating and flatulence effects, while peas cause allergic reactions to some people.

Examples of beans are the light red kidney, dark red kidney, red beans, pink beans, black beans, small white, cannellini (white kidney bean), and garbanzo; conversely, examples of peas are black eye peas, whole peas, pigeon pea, and sweet pea.

What are Beans?

Beans are seeds of several flowering plant family Fabaceae, which are used by animals and humans as food. Beans can be grown in larger quantities, and they can provide more energy, carbohydrates, more food, and protein to the whole world.

Beans are also considered as staple crops in many African and Asian countries. Beans are rich sources of fats, protein, carbohydrates, oils, vitamins, and minerals. They also comprise some anti-nutritional factors like phytic acid and tannin. Beans are used as basic daily nutrition in some developing countries. These beans can be used for many agricultural purposes, such as crop rotations, green manure production, rhizobium biofertilizer, and intercropping.

Beans have harmful effects on human health, particularly kidney-shaped red beans, which contain toxic substance Lectin phytohaemagglutinin. Furthermore, edible beans contain oligosaccharide, and the normal human digestive system has no oligosaccharide digestive enzyme; that’s why beans cause bloating and flatulence effects in humans. Examples of beans are Dry bean, Kidney bean, Haricot bean, Pinto bean, Common bean, Navy bean, etc.

What are Peas?

Peas are small spherical or round shaped seeds belonging to genera Pisum, and they are botanically fruits. Peas are seasonally cropped from winter to early summer and can be grown worldwide depending upon location. Peas are used as food by both animals and humans.

Peas, because they are leguminous crops, can play an important role in crop rotation because of their ability to fix nitrogen. Peas are cultivated agriculturally, for livestock forage, for human food, and as soil enhancing green manure. Peas are rich sources of protein because of symbiotic bacteria present in its root nodules, which fix atmospheric nitrogen for the plant.

Hence peas are considered as the greatest source of plant proteins and also as best serving fertilizers for the soil. Regarding human health, peas also cause some allergic reactions. Examples of peas are Black pea, Chickpea, Black-eyed pea, Sweet pea, Dixie lee pea, etc.

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that both beans and peas are Legumes, where beans denote to the plant's seeds. Conversely, peas denote specific plant seeds.