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Here’s how to freeze green beans! Use this quick trick to preserve the life of fresh green beans outside the season.
Got a bunch of green beans and don’t have time to use them? Use this quick trick: how to freeze green beans! Fresh green beans are like gold, but sometimes you don’t have enough time to use them all. Freezing them locks in their green color and fresh flavor for using in recipes for months beyond. Here are a few tips on how to freeze fresh green beans like a professional!
How to freeze green beans
Green beans require one step before freezing: blanching. Is it really necessary? In a word: yes. Blanching is boiling vegetables until crisp tender, then plunging them into ice water to stop the cooking process. This helps to keep vegetables colorful over time by locking in a beautifully bright color, and helps them last longer by stopping the enzyme activity that results in deteriorating their texture, color, and flavor.
Here’s how to freeze green beans:
- Trim and chop the green beans to the desired length.
- Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Add the beans and boil for 2 minutes.
- Rinse the beans under cold water until they are cool to the touch.
- Pat the beans dry. Place them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Freeze in a single layer for 1 hour.
- Transfer to a sealable freezer-safe bag and freeze for 6 to 8 months.
Ways to use frozen green beans
Frozen green beans work well in recipes of all kinds: you’ll just need to cook them slightly less than the recipe indicates if it calls for fresh green beans. Here are some great green bean recipes to use them:
- Try the famous side dish, Green Beans Almondine
- Go for a fresh and tasty Green Bean Salad
- Go big on garlic in Garlic Green Beans
- Throw a pan of Roasted Green Beans in the oven
- Try Sauteed Green Beans, or fire up the grill for Grilled Green Beans
- Opt for Lemony Steamed Green Beans
- Mix up the Best Green Bean Casserole
- Add them to Italian Vegetable Soup
Let us know how you plan to use your green beans in the comments below.
More freezing methods
Want to freeze more fruits and vegetables? Here are a few more methods for preserving fresh food for months:
- Try How to Freeze Corn or How to Freeze Tomatoes
- Learn how to freeze green veggies like Broccoli, Zucchini, Potatoes, or Green Beans
- Opt for How to Freeze Pizza Dough or How to Freeze Bread
- Learn How to Freeze Peaches or How to Freeze Blueberries
- Go to How to Freeze Bananas to save blackening bananas
How to Freeze Green Beans
Here’s how to freeze green beans! Use this quick trick to preserve the life of fresh green beans outside the season.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: N/A
- Category: Frozen
- Method: Frozen
- Cuisine: N/A
Ingredients
- Green beans
Instructions
- Trim and chop the green beans to the desired length.
- Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Add the beans and boil for 2 minutes (blanching).
- Rinse the beans under cold water until they are cool to the touch.
- Pat the beans dry. Place them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Freeze in a single layer for 1 hour.
- Place in a sealable freezer-safe bag and freeze for 6 to 8 months.
Let us know if you have any questions!