Download ArticleDownload ArticleThis article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in utilizing fresh, fun ingredients and mixing traditional and innovative cooking techniques. Ollie George holds a BA in Comparative Literature from The University of California, Berkeley, and a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from eCornell University.
This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources.
This article has been viewed 157,447 times.
Green beans are a great addition in stir fries, casseroles or salads, as well as on their own as a healthy snack. They are a good source of vitamin C, A, and K, and are free of fat, cholesterol, or sodium. To store fresh green beans, start by trimming them so they will taste their best. If you plan to eat the green beans within 1 week, store them in the refrigerator. If you want to keep the green beans for longer, freeze them so they stay fresh for several months.
Steps
Use a sharp chef’s knife to trim the ends off. Remove the knobby ends on the beans by cutting them off with the knife. Trimming off the ends will make the beans more appetizing when you add them to dishes or meals.[1]- You can also trim off the tapered ends on the beans if you’d like, though this will not affect the taste or flavor of the beans.
Cut the beans into 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) pieces. If you plan to add the green beans to soups and casseroles, cut them up before you store them. This will make it easier for you to put them in dishes as you cook. Make sure all the beans are cut to around the same size and length.[2]Advertisement
Leave the beans whole for green bean dishes. If you are planning to serve the beans whole in a steamed green bean dish, do not cut them before you store them.- You may cut a portion of the beans and leave the other portion whole so you have some variety.
Do not wash the beans. Washing the beans can leave moisture on them, which can cause them to mold. Use your hand to wipe off any dirt or debris on the beans, if any.[3]
Place a paper towel in a large resealable freezer bag. The paper towel will help to soak up moisture on the beans and prevent them from becoming moldy.
Put the green beans in the bag. Make sure the green beans sit flat in the bag. Push as much air as you can out of the bag before you seal it.
Refrigerate for up to 1 week. Keep the beans in the vegetable crisper drawer in your refrigerator so they stay fresh.[4]
Wash the beans before using them in dishes. Before you toss the beans in a dish, take them out of the fridge and give them a rinse under cool running water. Make sure they appear hard and supple, not soggy or wet. Then, put them in casseroles, stir frys, and salads for a healthy crunch.
Boil the green beans in water. Blanching the beans will prevent bacteria from forming and keep them crunchy, rather than soggy or wet. Put 1 gallon (3.8 l) of water in a large pot. Bring it to a boil and put the beans in the water in batches.- Let small beans boil for 2 minutes. Medium beans can be boiled for 3 minutes, and large beans can be boiled for 4 minutes.[5]
Cool the beans in a bowl of ice water. Make ice water by putting ice cubes in cold water in a bowl. Put the boiled beans in the ice water to blanch them. After the beans have cooled, take them out of the ice water and pat them dry with a paper towel.- Cool the beans for the same amount of time that you boiled them. For example, if you boiled small beans for 2 minutes, cool them for 2 minutes.
- You may need to add more ice to the ice water to keep it cold.
- Use tongs or a slotted spoon to transfer the beans from the hot water to the ice bath.
Place the beans in a large resealable freezer bag. Make sure the beans sit flat in the bag. Seal the top shut, leaving a small space.[6] Then, press down on the bag to remove air in the bag. This will prevent freezer burn and keep the beans fresh.- Another option is to use a vacuum sealer to remove air in the bags.
Label the bag with the date and amount. Use a permanent marker to note the date you froze the beans and the amount in the bag. You can also write “green beans” on the bag so it is easy for you to identify them when you pull them out of the freezer.[7]
Freeze the beans for 8-10 months. They will keep in your freezer as long as they stay sealed in the freezer bag. Try to keep the beans stacked flat in your freezer.
Take them out of the freezer and use them in dishes. You do not need to defrost the beans before you put them in casseroles, soups, or stir frys. Simply remove them from the freezer bag and add them to dishes, allowing them to heat up as you cook them.[8]
Expert Q&A
Tips
Things You'll Need
- A sharp chef’s knife
- Large resealable freezer bags
- Paper towels
- A permanent marker
- Bowl of ice water
- Pot for boiling water
- Access to a stove top
References
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-prepare-and-cook-green-beans-article
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/how-to-prepare-and-cook-green-beans-article
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/green-beans
- ↑ https://food.unl.edu/article/green-beans
- ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/bean_green.html
- ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/bean_green.html
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-freeze-green-beans
- ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-freeze-green-beans
About This Article
If you need to store fresh green beans to use within a week, use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the knobby ends of the beans. Do not wash the beans before you store them, as the moisture can cause mold to form. Fold a paper towel and place it into a large resealable plastic bag to absorb moisture. Then, fill the bag with the green beans. Push as much air out of the bag as you can before you seal it. Wash the beans before you use them.
Reader Success Stories
"It gave me better techniques for storing and freezing green beans, thank you."
Did this article help you?
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Content from Wiki How English language website. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike License; additional terms may apply.
Wiki How does not encourage the violation of any laws, and cannot be responsible for any violations of such laws, should you link to this domain, or use, reproduce, or republish the information contained herein.
- - A few of these subjects are frequently censored by educational, governmental, corporate, parental and other filtering schemes.
- - Some articles may contain names, images, artworks or descriptions of events that some cultures restrict access to
- - Please note: Wiki How does not give you opinion about the law, or advice about medical. If you need specific advice (for example, medical, legal, financial or risk management), please seek a professional who is licensed or knowledgeable in that area.
- - Readers should not judge the importance of topics based on their coverage on Wiki How, nor think a topic is important just because it is the subject of a Wiki article.
