How to Cook Green Beans

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5.0

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  • Prep Time

    5 mins

  • Cook Time

    5 mins

  • Total Time

    10 mins

  • Servings

    4

  • Calories

    35 kcal

  • Course

    Side Dish

How to Cook Green Beans

Learn how to cook green beans to get those perfectly crisp-tender and vibrantly beautiful veggies to enjoy in a variety of side dishes or incorporating into other bean-celebrating recipes!

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Ingredients

Servings
  • 1 pound fresh green beans or yellow wax beans
  • salted water for boiling (use kosher or sea salt)

Instructions

  1. Rinse the beans in a colander and use your fingers or a knife to snap off or trim the ends. You can trim the stem end only or trim both ends. Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. The recommended guideline is 2 tablespoons of salt per quart of water (use kosher or sea salt, table salt has a harsh flavor). This high concentration of salt helps tenderize the beans quickly so that their vibrant color is preserved. Prepare an ice bath by filling a large bowl with cold water with ice cubes.
  2. Place the beans in the boiling water. If you're going to eat the beans as is, boil them for about 3-5 minutes until tender but still retaining some crisp (the more slender the diameter of the bean, the less cooking time). The texture should be "snappy" and such that you can bite through it without hearing it squeak. If you plan to cook the beans further after blanching them (like sautéing them in oil, giving them a quick char, or using them in a casserole), boil them for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Use a pair of long tongs to remove the beans and immediately plunge them into the ice bath to chill. Drain the beans in a colander then place them on paper towels or a clean kitchen towel and blot dry. If not using immediately, you can store the green beans in the fridge for up to 2 days. At this point you have options: Eat your green beans now, prepare them further by sautéing and seasoning them, or use them in any recipe that calls for green beans. Or you can freeze them for future use (see blog post).

Nutrition Information

Show Details
Calories 35kcal (2%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 0.3g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.1g (1%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g Sodium 7mg (0%) Potassium 239mg (7%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 782IU (16%) Vitamin C 14mg (16%) Calcium 42mg (4%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 35 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories 35kcal 2%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 0.3g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g 1%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.01g 0%
Sodium 7mg 0%
Potassium 239mg 5%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 782IU 16%
Vitamin C 14mg 16%
Calcium 42mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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