In Southern talk, a mess of green beans is when you have a bunch of them. What to do? That’s when a fail-proof technique to blanch green beans is a lifesaver, so you don’t waste nature’s bounty. Blanching green beans is super fast and easy, so I wonder why I don’t do it more often. Besides being delicious, it improves the texture and taste to fit your dish. That and blanched veggies are ideal for the freezer.
What You Need
How to Blanch Green Beans
Rinse – Place the green beans in a colander and rinse under running water, then give a shake to dry. Trim the ends easily by individually snapping off the non-edible ends or cutting off the tips of three or more green beans at the same time using a knife or kitchen scissors. Remove tough strings at the sides of the beans (if they have them). (Photos 1-2)Boiling Water – Pour about four quarts of water into a large pot. The pot should hold enough water to cover the green beans without boiling over. Add salt.Prep Ice Bath – While your water is coming to a boil, put ice cubes and water in a large bowl so you can put the beans in as soon as they come out of the boiling water.Cook – Add the green beans to the boiling water for 3-5 minutes until it’s tender-crisp and the color is bright green. (Photos 3-4)Transfer – When the desired color and texture are achieved, remove immediately from boiling water and transfer them to the ice bath. (Photo 5)Drain – Once the beans cool, drain them completely, and they are ready to use. (Photo 6)
Blanching Tips
Storage Instructions
Storing fresh green beans is different from blanched green beans. Fresh green beans can be kept in an open bag in your fridge for up to seven days. Only wash them before using and not if you’re planning to store them longer, or else they may mold. You can store blanched green beans in a ziplock bag and refrigerate them for one week or freeze them for nine months. To flash freeze them, pat them dry and arrange them in a sheet pan with parchment paper in a single layer. Once they freeze solid, transfer them to an airtight bag or resealable bag. Note: Don’t freeze unblanched green beans, or you’ll end up with dull and mushy green beans.
How to Use Blanched Green Beans
If you want to use them, just thaw them and add them to anything you want. Some great recipes to throw them into are:
More Fantastic Green Bean Recipes to Try
Conclusion
Say goodbye to overcooked green beans (or almost any veggie) with this easy blanching technique. Do you have other tips for blanching veggies? Let me know in the comments! 😉
