Ever wonder if it is better to freeze or can green beans?
Snap beans or string beans are also commonly known as one of the most popular staple sides you will ever find in our homes’ dinner tables.
And I bet you can tell from my enthusiastic intro to this post that my home food pantry is undoubtedly stocked to the brim with a combination of frozen and canned green beans.
It shows that green beans are, without a doubt, an essential side dish for any dinner table. But that’s not all… green beans are a great addition to stir-fries, casseroles, e.t.c.
They are also high in mineral compounds on their own when eaten as a healthy salad.
Sadly, green beans are often available from local gardens, farmers’ markets and are available for a short period each summer.
Nonetheless, most people love green beans because they are crucial for your body’s health as they are an excellent source of vitamins C, A, and K; they are also free of fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Many households love this excellent tasting Vegetable and wonder which preserving method is better between freezing and canning them.
With green beans being a seasonal vegetable, it begs questions whether it is better to freeze or preserve green beans by canning them when they are in abundant supply during summer seasons?
So, is it better to freeze on can green beans?
In general, It is better to freeze green beans than canning them. Frozen beans lock in all the essential nutrients, which equally preserves green beans, but the canning process often devalues some of the nutrients.
So, after some research, we found out that both freezing and canning green beans are methods people use to preserve them for later use, but the best one between the two is to freeze your green beans, they will last for almost the whole year but still taste great the day you decide to prepare them.
Now, if you too are considering preserving green beans, there are only a few steps to follow when freezing your green beans, and these are:
1. Sourcing the green beans: Buy the green beans from your local market
Most pantry food stores in homes across the country are packed with backyard-grown green beans that have been preserved soon after a summer’s bumper harvest.
But, if you can’t grow them in your backyard, do not fret it! You can buy plenty of green beans and freeze them for future use when they are not in season because they are only in season for a short period.
Make sure that you buy green beans that are blemish-free, and they should also not have small seeds inside them because the small beans signify that the green bean is past its prime. So make sure you buy the freshest beans as possible and then prepare them for freezing the very same day.
2. Wash your green beans thoroughly
Make sure you remove all the dirt, and then, after washing, use a paring knife to snip the ends off the beans. Also, it would help if you cut out any bug spots or bruises on the green beans with the same knife.
You should then cut the beans to the length of your choice; if you prefer, you can leave them whole or cut them into two pieces after removing the ends.
3. After that prepare the cookware
Boil some water in a large pot, and make sure you leave room to put the bean in the boiling water. On the other hand, you should also fill a bowl with lots of water and ice cubes.
Then blanch the green beans in the boiling water; this procedure is to help remove enzymes that break down the quality of the green beans.
However, the green beans should not boil for too long because they will overcook, which is unnecessary.
4. Transfer the green beans from the boiling water into the bowl full of ice cubes and water
Let the green beans chill in the super cold water for about 4 minutes and then take them out and drain them in the draining process; make sure you remove as much moisture as you can. This is because if you leave too much moisture on the beans, they may have ice crystals forming on them when you put them in the freezer, causing the taste and flavor of the green beans to deteriorate. You can as well use paper to remove all the extra moisture from the beans.
5. Pack the green beans
After removing all the moisture, it’s time to pack the green beans, getting them ready for freezing. For this stage, you must use freezer bags that zip, then put enough beans in each freezer bag, let’s say in each bag out enough for the entire family so that when it’s time to defrost, you have precisely what’s enough for the whole family.
A hood measurement should be a one-hand full of beans per serving, and then you should put that in the freezer bag.
Close the freezer bag and insert a straw into the opening so that when slowly removing the straw, you draw out all the remaining air using the straw, then seal the bag after you’ve removed the straw.
6. Lastly, you should freeze your green beans
The final stage is to freeze your green beans, but make sure you rearrange the green beans in the bags so that the bags are lying as flat as possible. This is to help the beans freeze a bit faster and also to keep their fresh taste.
Green beans that are frozen are best because they can last for almost a year in the freezer but will still keep their great taste.
Keeping your green beans for almost a year in the freezer without worrying if they’ll get spilled is really impressive, so go ahead and freeze your green beans. You’ll enjoy them in all seasons.
In conclusion: Having preserved numerous vegetables, including pickled garlic, Zucchini, and many more, there is no doubt that pretty much like freshly preserved tomatoes, freezing green beans Is the best way to preserve them for later use.
This is because the process offers numerous benefits for your home food pantry. It’s very easy, doesn’t require much of your time, and also helps you preserve for a long period of time while Canning beans will require much of your time and the process as well will require a lot of equipments and, i.e., a pressure canner, which is something some of us cannot afford.
So freezing is best, is for everyone, and will definitely not consume much of your time.
Nutrition facts and health benefits of green beans
1. They help maintain a healthy weight
Green beans do not contain fats; just one cup of raw beans contains 31 calories, which is excellent for those losing weight or those watching their waistlines.
2. Green beans are heart-healthy
Too many calories are bad for the heart because they lead to a build-up of fat deposits in the arteries, which can then decrease blood flow to your heart and brain, causing more complications. Green beans are heart-healthy; they do not contain cholesterol.
Boiled green beans contain 4.0 g edible fiber, some of its soluble fiber. Soluble fiber may help lower total cholesterol levels.
3. Green beans are a low fodMAP food
FODMAP is undigested carbohydrates that are then metabolized by bacteria in the gut, leading to belly pain, gas, and constipation. So, green beans are a low FODMAP food meaning they bring relief to your tummy and other digestion problems.
4. Green beans are a great source of proteins
We all know that the body needs enough proteins to have healthy bones, muscles, organs, e.t.c; proteins are also essential for a healthy immune system. Green beans contain lots of proteins, which are fantastic for the body.
5. Green beans are also a good source of vitamins and minerals.
Green beans contain lots of essential vitamins and minerals. Just one cup of raw green beans has 33 micrograms of folate, which is a good percent of the daily recommended value. Green beans contain vitamins c, A, which are also essential to the body.
Green beans recipes ideas
You should simply blanch or steam fresh green beans and toss them with grape tomatoes and balsamic vinegar then toss fresh green beans in olive oil, freshly ground pepper, and freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and roast at 425°F (218°C) until crisp-tender Or add blanched or steamed green beans to a green salad.
Or you can sauté fresh green beans in olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice. Or dip fresh green beans into hummus or plain, low-fat yogurt flavored with fresh herbs.
Green Beans with Toasted Garlic and Almonds
Try adding almond-garlic oil to your green beans to amp up the flavor while keeping it healthy. To make this even tastier, add 1 Tbsp of vinegar at the very end, just before serving.
Try green beans amandine.
Adding lemon juice and water to the browned butter mixture creates a lovely, glossy sauce that coats the beans beautifully. The overall impression is that there’s far more butter than there is. (2)
You can quickly get a head start by completing step 1 up to two days ahead; then, the recipe can come together in the last few minutes before the feast.
Try Grilled Green Beans
Throw these green beans on the grill or whip out the cast iron skillet to create this flavor-packed dish.
Or try green beans with bacon, Shallots, and garlic kick up the green beans’ flavor, toasted pecans add crunch and fiber, and center-cut bacon lends a salty punch without tons of sat fat.
Last but not least, utilizing the rendered bacon grease in the skillet eliminates the need for butter.
Try charred Sesame Green Beans
One taste of these quick-charred green beans, and you’ll never steam again.
Letting the beans sit in the hot skillet without stirring is the secret to getting a nice char; adding the sauce to the still-hot skillet helps it reduce quickly and clings to the crispy, smoky beans. Serve with roasted pork or salmon.
Enjoy these simple recipes with your green beans adding the flavor.