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<\/p>\nFreezing string beans is a great way to preserve them for future meals. You don’t even need any special equipment. Learn how to freeze string beans with or without blanching using basic supplies that you already have in your kitchen.<\/p>\n
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When it comes to growing a vegetable garden, there’s no doubt that string beans are one of the most popular crop to grow. They come in so many varieties, shapes, and colors.<\/p>\n
String beans are easy to grow and can produce an abundant harvest. Since beans are our favorite, I tend to grow several bush and pole varieties so that I have plenty for fresh eating and preserving.<\/p>\n
While I prefer to preserve string beans by canning them<\/a> or turning them into pickled dilly beans<\/a>, I rely on freezing a few bags as well. I find that freezing beans locks in more of that fresh green bean flavor than canning does.<\/p>\n Frozen green beans are useful to have on hand for a quick side dish. Simply boil the beans until tender, drain, and top with a pat of butter. They are also handy for adding to soups and stir frys. Just scoop out a handful at a time and cook as you would fresh beans.<\/p>\n Blanching is the process of partially cooking the beans in boiling water, and then plunging them into ice water to stop the cooking process. Pre-cooking before freezing helps slow the enzymes that can cause lost flavor, color and texture. Blanching also kills and washes off any microorganisms that might be on the surface of the food.<\/p>\n I usually blanch string beans before freezing, but sometimes if it is a choice between the beans going bad and freezing, I will rinse them well and toss them whole into freezer bags without blanching.<\/p>\n You don’t need to blanch the string beans if you plan on using them in less than 3 months. Just be sure to rinse it very well before freezing and cook before eating. You can skip the blanching step.<\/p>\n If you want your string beans to last longer in the freezer, go ahead and blanch it before freezing. Properly blanched, packaged, and frozen string beans will maintain a higher quality for approximately 12 months.<\/p>\n Harvest your string beans in their prime when they are still small to medium sized and tender without large seedpods. Freeze them the same day for the best quality, or wash and store in the refrigerator for a day or two until you are ready to preserve. One pound of cut string beans will fit in a quart sized freezer bag.<\/p>\n String beans grow quickly and I like to pick them every day, so they don’t grow too big, but sometimes they get away from me. The large or seedy pods may taste ok when eating fresh, but they don’t hold up very well to freezing and tend to get tough.<\/p>\n You’ll find a printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are the illustrated steps to freeze string beans for food storage:<\/p>\n Simple kitchen equipment is all you’ll need to freeze string beans:<\/p>\n Rinse the string beans under running water, remove the strings, trim ends, leave whole or cut into pieces.<\/p>\n Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Lower the string beans into the boiling water and boil for 3-minutes.<\/p>\n Remove the beans and plunge into the bowl of ice water to cool for about 5 minutes. Once the beans have cooled, scoop it out and dry on a clean kitchen towel.<\/p>\n Pre-freezing the beans before storing in freezer bags will help prevent the pieces from sticking together and allow you to grab a handful when needed for meals.<\/p>\n To pre-freeze, layer your baking sheets with parchment paper. Spread the beans out on the sheets so they are not touching. Place the baking sheets in the freezer until they are frozen solid, about 1 to 2-hours.<\/p>\n Place the frozen beans into freezer bags, remove the air, and seal the bag. Label, date, and store the beans in the freezer until you are ready to use in your favorite recipes. Use within 10-12 months for the best quality.<\/p>\nDo you have to blanch string beans before freezing?<\/h2>\n
Steps to Freezing String Beans<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nStep 1: Gather your equipment<\/h3>\n
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Step 2: Prepare the string beans<\/h3>\n
![\"cut](\"https:\/\/growagoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/freeze-beans-cut.jpg\")
<\/p>\nStep 3: Blanch the beans<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nStep 5: Flash freeze the string beans on baking sheets<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nStep 6: Package into freezer bags<\/h3>\n
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