How do I freeze fresh green beans?
Clean them and put them in a pot of boiling water for 1-2 minutes - this is blanching - it will seal in their green color. After taking them from pot, put them in a ice water bath. Drain, dry them with paper towels, place them on cookie sheets and freeze. Then you can pack them in freezer bags in whatever amount you desire. Be sure to mark bags the dates - when ready to use, prepare as you normally would. Delicious with chopped onions and bacon!
I do it the same way by blanching. Only after they dry I toss into the baggies. But I like the idea of freezing them on a baking sheet first.
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I would like to know how to freeze fresh green beans.
By Pat Henneke from La Grange, TX
My mother puts them in a freezer Ziploc bag and tosses them in the freezer. She also cans a bunch for later in the year, but that's beside the point. (05/14/2010)
By Suntydt
Get them ready and into the freezer promptly after picking them. I snip the ends and break them into pieces. Since I don't use pesticides, I don't even wash them, but if you must wash them, dry them with a thick towel. Then, using paper lunch bags, take 3 bags and put one inside the other. Fill up to 3/4 full with the prepared dry beans, fold down the top and fasten with either a stapler or large paper clips. Mark the bag with a Sharpie pen with the contents and the date.
When you want to use them, just take out what you need, refasten the bag and return to the freezer. They do not freeze into a lump, and will have very little, if any, frost in the bag. They are very good steamed until tender. A friend taught me this a couple years ago. You can also freeze okra, English peas, and chopped or sliced bell peppers this way. The picture shows beans that are still frozen. They have been in the freezer since last August, and as you can see no frost and they are loose pack.
Harlean from Arkansas (05/17/2010)
By Harlean
