Find out how to prepare green beans, their ideal boiling time, and how to blanch green beans so that they come out perfectly tender and crisp. From a Five Bean Salad to my Mediterranean Braised Green Beans to my Garlic Butter Green Beans, you’ll find hundreds of uses for this green bean recipe!
If you have extra green beans on hand, be sure to also try our foolproof recipe for Air Fryer Green Beans.
Ingredients
You only need four simple ingredients to prepare this nutrient-packed veggie:
- Fresh green beans
- Water & ice
- Kosher Salt
Even better, there are dozens of types of green beans from which to choose! Also known as snap beans and string beans, green beans come in many different varieties. For instance, this vegetable comes as wax beans, purple string beans, romano beans, Chinese long beans, and even Haricots verts (AKA French beans).
Although green beans come in many different sizes, textures, and colors, they all have a signature crispness and grassy freshness. Almost any type of green bean will work for this recipe.
Though please note that the duration of boiling and blanching may differ based on the type of green beans you are using. The cooking time that I am sharing here is for regular green beans that you find in supermarkets that are also known as Blue Lake.
How to Prepare Green Beans for Cooking?
Preparing green beans is a snap using one pot and just 15 minutes of your time. This easy recipe for cooking fresh green beans is a dream come true for beginner and expert chefs alike.
- When shopping for green beans, select veggies with bright green color and firm texture. Also, look for thin beans that don’t have large, bulging seeds. These beans will be sweeter, crisper, and less mealy. An easy way to test for texture is to snap a loose bean in half. Good green beans should break rather than bend.
- Rinse your green beans under cold water before cooking them to remove unwanted debris and ensure maximum freshness.
- Trim the ends of your green beans to remove their tough, stringy tails before cooking. A great way to cut the beans is to line 5-7 of them up at a time on a cutting board and remove the stem end with a single cut.
- When cooking green beans on the stove, remember that you can cook them as whole green beans or cut them in half into smaller, recipe-friendly pieces.
How to Boil String Beans
Want to know how to parboil green beans perfectly? This cooking method only has a handful of basic steps that make boiling green beans a cinch, especially once they are trimmed.
- Boil the water: Add water and salt to a large pot and place over medium-high heat. Bring the salted water to a boil.
- Prepare the ice water: While the pot heats up, fill a large bowl with ice and water. Set it aside.
- Boil the green beans: Carefully add the trimmed beans to the large pot of water, and cook until crisp and tender (5-6 minutes).
- Blanch: Transfer the green beans into the ice bath using a slotted spoon or a spider strainer. Let them cool to room temperature (5 minutes) before draining. Learning how to blanch fresh green beans is the key to keeping them fresh, crisp, and full of flavor. Plus, only simple preparation is necessary when blanching green beans. While your water is boiling, fill a large bowl with ice water. Then, once your green beans are finished cooking, transfer them immediately to the bowl using a slotted spoon or spider strainer. Let the green beans fully cool for about 5 minutes. Once your beans have reached room temperature, drain the ice water, and they’re ready to eat!
The blanching process isn’t just for green beans, though. You can also blanch other veggies, like my Blanched Peas, to help maintain their taste and texture.
- Dry: If you plan to use the green beans right away, line a baking sheet with a few sheets of paper towels. Then, place the green beans on top to dry them off.
How Long To Boil Green Beans?
The ideal boiling time for green beans depends on the desired texture and personal preference. However, in general, it takes about 5-8 minutes to boil green beans.
To check doneness, insert a knife (or a fork) into one of the green beans. If it goes in and out without resistance it should be ready to eat. Otherwise, continue boiling for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Make Ahead, Storage, & Reheating Tips
Blanching green beans ahead of time is an easy method for chefs on the go. Whether you use blanched beans in tasty casseroles or add them to garden-fresh salads, you’ll love this meal prep.
- Make ahead: Once you blanch green beans, they’ll stay fresh for up to 2 days. Just dry off the green beans completely before storing them in an airtight container.
- Storage: Once you dry off your green beans, store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- To reheat: Microwave your green beans in 30-second intervals or lightly saute them in a pan with some water or butter for a few minutes.
- To freeze: Dry off your green beans and let them reach room temperature. Then, put them in an airtight container, trying to remove as much air as possible. Note, though, that your green beans may come out softer and more watery after being thawed and reheated. To maintain as much crispness as possible, I recommend slightly reducing your fresh string beans’ cooking time if you plan on freezing them.
What Can You Do With Boiled Fresh Green Beans
Learning how to cook fresh green beans in boiling water is just the beginning. Once you know what to do with fresh green beans, you’ll be able to whip up hundreds of other savory dishes.
- Add them to soups: Tender, bite-sized, and earthy, cooked cut green beans are a go-to for many soup recipes, like my one-pot Chicken Vegetable Soup.
- Add them to salads: Green beans balance any salad with a grassy and crisp bite. Try adding this veggie to my Five Bean Salad or Texas Caviar for a simple recipe.
- Serve them as a side dish: Boiled green beans make a perfect pair with hundreds of main dishes. Just saute them in garlic and butter, add toasted almonds, top with parmesan cheese, and voilá! Everyone will adore these Garlic Butter Green Beans.
- Put them in casseroles: Who can resist the creamy taste of Green Bean Casserole? Not me. One of my favorite ways to use this veggie is in this timeless green beans recipe.
What to Serve with Them?
Knowing how to cook green beans on the stove is valuable for any well-rounded menu. Green beans are an easy side dish that will satisfy everyone at your dinner table, no matter what you serve.
- Meat and poultry dishes—such as Turkey Meatloaf, Mediterranean Lemon Chicken, Pot Roast, and Baked Chicken Breast—are classic, protein-packed dishes to serve alongside this nutritious veggie.
- Pasta dishes, like Beef Stroganoff and Chicken Stroganoff, balance the bright color and fresh taste of green beans with hearty, rich flavors.
- Seafood dishes, such as my Shrimp Scampi and Breaded Fish, are some of the best recipes to pair with this light and healthy side dish.
Expert Tips
Whether you’re wondering how many minutes to boil green beans or how much salt you should add to your water, these pro tips will tell you all you need about how to cook string beans in a pot.
- Salt your water: Like pasta, salt is crucial to giving green beans flavor while cooking. To check if you’ve put enough salt in your water, taste it. It should be about as salty as seawater.
- Don’t leave the pot: Since green beans’ cooking time is so short, don’t leave your veggies’ side while they’re on the stove. I also recommend checking the beans after 5 minutes of boiling to see if you’ve cooked them as desired.
- Check your green beans: Always check to ensure your green beans are done to your liking before draining their water. You do want your green beans to have a vibrant green color but it is important that they are cooked to your desired texture as well.
- French green beans: Because French green beans—also known as haricot verts—are so dainty, they need less time on the stove than other types of green beans. Only 2-3 minutes are necessary to boil French greens.
- Dry your beans: If you are using your green beans in a recipe, be sure to dry them off first. I suggest lining a baking sheet with paper towels and laying your green beans on top.
- Season as you wish: While you can serve them as they are, I usually like to season them with salt and pepper (and optionally a pinch of red pepper flakes). A drizzle of olive oil is also a great addition and makes it a great alternative to sautéed green beans.
FAQs
Though the cooking process may reduce the nutrient levels of some vegetables, green beans maintain their antioxidant levels after being cooked.
Only salt should be added to the water when cooking your green beans.
Blanching green beans is the secret to how to keep green beans crisp, tender, and flavorful. Dousing your beans in ice water immediately after boiling them stops the cooking process and ensures they don’t become mushy.
Depending on the green beans you use, I recommend boiling them for 5 minutes. However, if you’re cooking a more delicate variety, like French green beans, or you plan on cooking them again in another recipe, reduce the green beans’ boiling time to 2-3 minutes.
Yes, you can. However, be aware that the cooking time will be longer. There is no need to thaw. Simply place the frozen green beans into boiling water and follow the recipe as written.
A few reasons why your green beans may turn mushy are using older green beans, overcooking, or blanching them for too long.
If you tried the method on this article on How To Boil Green Beans article, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
How To Boil Green Beans Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh green beans*
- 3 quarts water, (12 cups)
- 2 tablespoons kosher salt*
Instructions
- To prepare the fresh green beans for boiling, pick through them and discard any that are discolored or bruised.
- To trim green beans quickly, line up 5-7 green beans so that the stem ends are even. This way you can easily cut off the stems with one quick swipe of the knife. Depending on the recipe you are planning to use, you can leave them as a whole or cut them in the middle if you want smaller pieces.
- Place water and salt in a large pot over medium-high heat. Bring it to a boil.
- Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice and water. Set it aside.
- Carefully add the green beans into the boiling water. Cook until crisp and tender, 5-7 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon or a spider strainer, transfer the green beans into the ice water. Let them cool to room temperature completely for about 5 minutes. Drain.
- If you are planning to use them in a recipe right away, you can place them on a baking sheet lined with a few sheets of paper towels to try them off.
Video
Notes
- This recipe uses regular fresh green beans. If you are using French Green Beans, please know that you can use the same method but they cook quicker.
- Salt your water: Like pasta, salt is crucial to giving green beans flavor while cooking. To check if you’ve put enough salt in your water, taste it. It should be about as salty as seawater.
- Check your green beans: Always check to ensure your green beans are done to your liking before draining their water. I listed 5 minutes of boiling time as I like my green beans to be on the crunchier side but the timing can be adjusted easily by boiling them longer or shorter depending on your preference.
- Make ahead: Once you blanch green beans, they’ll stay fresh for up to 2 days. Just dry off the green beans completely before storing them in an airtight container.
- Storage: Once you dry off your green beans, store them in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- To freeze: Dry off your green beans and let them reach room temperature. Then, put them in an airtight container, trying to remove as much air as possible. Note, though, that your green beans may come out softer and more watery after being thawed and reheated. To maintain as much crispness as possible, I recommend slightly reducing your fresh string beans’ cooking time if you plan on freezing them.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
