Believe it or not there are spineless versions of this cactus. BUT KNOW they still have invisible to large spines on the semi to fully mature stems/pads. Only the very young pads are spineless. Ours never make it to fruit because we eat the pads long before it wants to flower. The fruit is tasty with lots of seeds.
This plant is SO easy to propagate. Snap off a mature pad (make sure no one is looking) and shove an inch or so in the ground. Even that is not necessary because just laying it on soil, it will manage to root and grow.
How to serve these pads? Easy. Snap off tender new pads of a "spineless" variety and you won't have to deal with the spines. Julienne slice (slice thinly in long strips) then toss in with other veggies you going to roast with some olive oil. Bake at 400-425ยบ until slightly charred. Not a lot of flavor by themselves but the green pad strips are lovely.
Questioning YOUR spines? Use gloves. Attack/remove spines with flame, by grilling, or vegetable peeler. Flamethrowers also work well. :)
Read more here:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fp448
http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu/News%20columns/Prickley.Pear.htm
http://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/prickly-pear.html
