How To Boil Green Beans Recipe

How To Boil Green Beans Recipe

Learn how to boil and blanch green beans to use in recipes or to freeze them for later. With my foolproof method, you can have perfectly boiled and ready you eat fresh green beans in less than 15 minutes from start to finish.

Course Vegetarian Side Dish

Cuisine American Vegan

Diet Vegan

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 5

Blanching Time 5

Total Time 15

Servings pound

Calories 141kcal

Author Aysegul Sanford

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