Freezing runner beans?

Find frozen beans either home or commercially processed, quite tasteless, nothing like the fresh ones. Just going out to pick my first crop of miniature black french beans, never grown them before, I hope they turn green when cooked!

This is interesting. I gave up freezing runners because they deteriorated so quickly. Maybe I will give them a chance again without blanching.

I don’t blanch mine, they seem absolutely fine!

Farmor15

I've been freezing runner beans for years. Slice quite thinly first, then blanch for 1 min before plunging in cold water. After draining, I just divide into bags and freeze - not on trays. Come out fine!

That's how I do them
Or sometimes just freeze as mumofmadboys says.

Last year we got barely enough for a few meals, hoping this year will be better.
The first feast of homegrown beans is always the best!

So far I haven’t managed to cook any beans…..I’ve eaten them all before I get to the kitchen!

i just slice and freeze. Never blanch them. Always taste fine.

I've been freezing runner beans for years. Slice quite thinly first, then blanch for 1 min before plunging in cold water. After draining, I just divide into bags and freeze - not on trays. Come out fine!

I only freeze French beans, and I put them in curries, casseroles etc., rather than eating them as a side vegetable. They taste fine if they are part of a dish.

I don’t like my veg frozen and I don’t have a big freezer anyway so I just give it away to my friends better than wasting it

I find that all kinds of beans become fairly tasteless if frozen, so I have gone back to making a fairly strong solution of salt and water and bottling them in it in Kilner jars or other jars that can be sealed well.

eddiecat78

Thanks. I am growing 2 different and newer varieties this year - maybe they'll be better. I do have an awful lot this year and can't bear to see them going to waste

Some freeze better than others.

Lady Di is a good variety for freezing and it is stringless too.

I slice mine, then blanch them for a shorter time (maybe 30 seconds? I’m not very good about timing it), then plunge them into cold water to stop them continuing to cook.

I may try not blanching some , since others say it’s not necessary.

I never Blanche them , but they are used up pretty quickly , maybe that’s the difference

Thanks. I am growing 2 different and newer varieties this year - maybe they'll be better. I do have an awful lot this year and can't bear to see them going to waste

I just chop them into the desired lengths and freeze them. Blanching doesn't seem to be necessary so long as they are cooked properly once defrosted. I find microwaving best for both fresh and frozen but they're also fine chucked into a hot wok, usually with other veg such as chopped cabbage and onions.

Eddie at I’ve done exactly as you’ve done, hoping one year I’ll crack it. I’ve tried numerous ways, always disappointed. I’ve now given up, we now eat this delicious veg whilst in season. Pity as I still hanker to freeze some for later.

I can't imagine what you are doing wrong, because that is exactly how I freeze them too and mine come out ok.
I let them dry properly before freezing them, but that's the only thing I can think of as a possibility. Good luck next time.