Green beans are a versatile ingredient that you can easily combine with other raw or cooked vegetables, for example in a salad or in a pan of mixed vegetables, but the fact remains that they are also excellent on their own. They are good for your health, as they are rich in vitamins C, A and K and low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. If you bought them fresh, but don't intend to eat them right away, first trim them to keep only the tastiest part. If you plan to cook them within a week, you can keep them in the refrigerator. If, on the other hand, you want them to keep longer, freeze them so that they keep good even for several months.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Tick the Green Beans
Step 1. Cut off the stem ends using a sharp knife
Remove the stalks from the green beans by trimming them with the knife. Unlike stalks which are hard and woody, pods are tender and tasty, so they're the only ones you need to keep.
If you want, you can also eliminate the opposite end of the green beans, the tapered one, but this will not affect the flavor of your dishes
Step 2. Cut the green beans into 3-5 cm long pieces
If you plan to add them to soup or stew, cut them before placing them in the refrigerator. This will make it easier to introduce them into the pot during cooking. Try to cut them all roughly the same length to make sure they cook evenly.
Step 3. Leave them whole if you intend to serve them alone or as protagonists of the recipe
For example, if you want to steam them and eat them as a side dish, keep them whole.
If you want, you can cut a part and leave the rest whole to have the possibility to use them in different ways
Method 2 of 3: Store the Green Beans in the Refrigerator
Step 1. Don't wash the green beans
If they don't dry well, residual moisture could cause them to become moldy. For this reason it is best to simply wipe off the dirt and any impurities with your hands if necessary.
Step 2. Place a paper towel in a large food bag
The napkin's job is to absorb moisture from the green beans to prevent them from becoming moldy.
Step 3. Put the green beans in the bag
Insert them horizontally, neatly, then let out as much air as possible before closing the bag.
Step 4. Store the green beans in the refrigerator and eat them within a week
Place the bag in the vegetable drawer to keep them fresh and firm for as long as possible.
Step 5. Wash the green beans before cooking them
Before putting them in the pot, take them out of the refrigerator and rinse them under cold running water. Check that they are still firm and flexible and discard any soft or hard ones. At this point you are ready to cook them, alone or in addition to, for example, a soup or a stew. They will give flavor and crunchiness to any dish.
Method 3 of 3: Store the Green Beans in the Freezer
Step 1. Briefly cook the green beans in boiling water
Blanching vegetables helps prevent bacteria from proliferating, and also keeps them crunchy, rather than becoming soggy. Pour 4 liters of water into a large pot and bring it to a boil. When the water boils, add the green beans. Blanch them several times, if there are many.
Blanch the smaller green beans for 2 minutes. For medium-sized ones it will take 3 minutes, while if they are large you will need to cook them for 4 minutes
Step 2. Cool the green beans in ice water
Fill a bowl with cold water, then add a generous amount of ice cubes. Transfer the green beans to ice water after draining them from boiling water with a slotted spoon or colander. When they have cooled, drain them again and then pat them dry with kitchen paper.
- Let the green beans cool for the same amount of time it took to blanch them. For example, if you let them cook for 2 minutes, soak them in ice water for 2 minutes.
- In the long run, you may need to add more ice cubes to keep the water cold.
Step 3. Place the green beans in a large food bag
Arrange them horizontally, then zip close the bag almost completely and let out all the air you can before sealing it completely. In this way the green beans will keep good longer and will be protected from possible cold burns.
If possible, use the machine to vacuum the food
Step 4. Label the bag specifying the date and contents
Write the information using a permanent marker. Note the date of packaging, the quantity and the contents of the bag. Make it clear that these are green beans, to avoid confusing them with other vegetables you store in the freezer.
Step 5. Cook the green beans within 8-10 months
From time to time check that the bag is properly sealed and try to keep it horizontally. By storing them properly, green beans will keep good longer.
Step 6. Take them out of the freezer just before use
You don't need to let them thaw before adding them to soup, soup, stew, or other stir-fried vegetables. Simply take them out of the freezer and place them in the pot, letting them gradually warm up as they cook.
