My family loves eating vegetables and one of the family favourites is the popular green beans. I’m a working mom and I always want to serve my family good food, so I always want to find some useful life hacks on how to prolong shelf life of fresh produce. That way, I can save more time, money, and effort from always going to the market to buy fresh veggies. I have learned that there are some fresh veggies that will last longer when frozen but I’m not so sure about the green beans. So, can I freeze fresh green beans?
That’s a very good question to ask coming from a very busy mom who still puts her family’s needs ahead of everything. Good thing we could answer that so others can also benefit from this query.
Many people are asking if green beans and all other kinds of beans can be frozen in order to preserve them. The answer is yes. Just like any other beans and peas, green beans can also be frozen to prolong its shelf life. There are two ways to do it; the blanched and the non-blanched processes.
Can You Freeze Fresh Green Beans?
- Freezing green beans is one way of preserving it for a couple of months. To preserve green beans you may also do the canning and bottling processes.
- There are two common methods in preparing the green beans for freezing. You can do the blanched or the non-blanched way. Either way, the outcome is almost the same but the non-blanched cooks longer though.
- Blanching beans before freezing halts the enzymes’ natural function to ripen and cause the produce to rot. This process also shrinks vegetables to save storage spaces and it brightens the colors of the veggies.
- You may opt to cut or not to cut the beans before the freezing process. It’s all up to you if you want them cut for easy cooking later. Make sure the beans are thoroughly dried before packing to prevent crystals from forming.
- As for the non-blanched method, you may or may not wash the beans first before putting them inside the freezer bag or containers. Vacuum as much air as possible and label them with dates before putting them inside the freezer.
- Stack them inside the freezer with spaces between so the air can circulate to prevent them from sticking together. All this methods in freezing green beans have negligible effects on quality, nutritive value and taste. Let it thaw as is and not in water as this will make it soggy or mushy.
How to Freeze Fresh Green Beans?
There are two methods used in freezing fresh green beans. Just follow these simple steps and you’re good to go.
For the blanched method, these are the steps to follow:
- Wash or wipe clean the green beans then trim the ends as you wish. To slice or not to slice them depends on your likings and preferences.
- Boil a pan of saltwater solution and prepare an ice bath for cooling the beans after blanching.
- Dip the beans in the boiling water and let soak for about 2 minutes or until the color turns deep bright green.
- Cool the beans immediately to stop cooking by plunging them into the ice bath then drain them thoroughly afterwards.
- Towel-dry or air-dry the beans to dry them completely and remove the excess moisture to prevent crystal formation.
- Pack the beans in freezer bags or containers and vacuum as much air as possible before putting them inside the freezer.
- Label them with dates and stack the containers inside the freezer for initial freezing with spaces in between so air can circulate to prevent them from sticking together.
- After the initial freezing, you may stack them the way you want and they should be ready for consumption up to the next 8 to 10 months.
For the non-blanched method, just follow the same steps except steps 2, 3, and 4.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Fresh Green Beans?
Fresh green beans are a delicious and healthy vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. But what do you do when you have extra fresh green beans? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover fresh green beans:
1. Make a salad – Green beans make a great addition to any salad. Just add them in with your other favorite salad ingredients, and you’ll have a tasty and healthy dish in no time.
2.Add them to your stir-fry – To add some extra flavor and nutrition to your next stir-fry, just add in some fresh green beans. They’ll cook up quickly and add a delicious crunch to your dish.
3. Roast them – Roasted green beans are a great side dish or snack. Just toss them in some olive oil and spices, and roast in a 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
4. Make green bean chips – Green bean chips are a healthy and delicious alternative to traditional potato chips. To make green bean chips, just slice the green beans thinly, toss with some olive oil and sea salt, and bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 15-20 minutes.
5. Pickle them – If you’re looking for a unique way to use up your green beans, try pickling them! To pickle green beans, you will need 1 pound of green beans, 1 cup of white vinegar, 1 cup of water, 1 Tablespoon of sugar, 1 Tablespoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of peppercorns. Simply combine the vinegar, water, sugar, salt, and peppercorns in a large pot and bring to a boil. Add the green beans and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool. Once cooled, store in a jar in the refrigerator. This recipe makes about 1 quart of pickled green beans.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover fresh green beans. Next time you find yourself with extra vegetables, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Green Bean Recipes
How to Make Garlic Green Beans Recipe from Scratch (Frozen) – Quick & Easy
A delicious side dish of chopped green beans and garlic with red pepper flakes, sautéed in oil and butter and seasoned with salt, then garnished with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Kicked up Frozen Green Beans
A spicy side dish of whole green beans cooked in water, drained, and tossed ala salad with olive oil, seasoned with sea salt, mixed peppercorn, Greek seasoning, and parmesan cheese.
Garlic Green Beans- Become Your Own Favorite Chef with Amy Westerman
A simpler version of garlic and whole green beans, just sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with salt, cooked to just the right crispiness and taste.
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze fresh green beans. The quality of frozen green beans will depend on how well they were handled and stored before being put in the freezer. Wrapping them well and sealing them tightly is very important when storing your ingredients for later use because it ensures that everything stays fresh. Here’s how to do it: remove stems and ends, blanch the beans (to kill off harmful microorganisms), cool quickly (using an ice bath or cold water), dry thoroughly (for about 15 minutes), seal properly, and label.
How do you usually freeze your green beans? Share with me in the comment below! I am always looking forward to interacting with my readers.