How do you preserve all the green beans, string beans, snap beans that are waiting on the vine for you to harvest? The fruits of the gardener's labors have come to fruition. Some years are better than others, but if you are lucky enough, you will have oodles of beans to eat and preserve. I found an article in Dave's Garden weekly newsletter on Preserving Beans: Canning versus Freezing by Angela Carson. It lays out clearly the equipment, the process, and storage for canned beans and frozen beans.
An individual's preference in taste and texture determines which method to use. The frozen beans remain a bit crispy even after cooking and they keep a brighter green color. The canned beans are cooked more thoroughly and lose their color. Try both methods and see what you think.
Dave's Garden Article on preserving beans.
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Last year we washed and prepped the beans, then put them in freezer bags with 1/4 cup of water then microwaved them on high for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes. Plunged into bowl of ice to cool and then freeze. They came out great! Didn't heat up the kitchen and was quick and neat.
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this. Thanks so much for sharing.
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