Also known as broad beans, fava beans are sold in the pod during the summer at specialty groceries and some super-markets. Shelled beans are also available frozen. When shopping for fresh beans, choose those with tightly closed, bulging, dark-green pods. If stored in perforated plastic bags, they will keep for one or two days in the refrigerator.
To shell a bean, press down on the seam near the stem and split the seam with your thumbnail to pop out the beans. Each bean is covered with a protective membrane; split it with your thumbnail and pull it off in one piece.