Freezing runner beans?

Change the type of beans you grow. Look at the packets and make sure they say “ ideal for freezing “
Then if they don’t turn out well?
It’s probably that your freezer isn’t up to the job of fast freezing. Check how old it is and if it’s getting on a bit, the following season see if you can find someone who has a newer model and do the initial freezing in their freezer. ( chap on my old allotment site says his wife does that for his runners, peas and broad beans )

Yay, not only me! I have chopped, froze! I have blanched, dried, froze! SAME result each time, RUBBER beans in winter! Current crop are too small to harvest,not a problem, we're scoffing 3 types of French (very successful experiment, dwarf, semi dwarf and climber, black, yellow, green, all in same hole!)

I buy some frozen veg. Most work. But not keen on frozen runner beans. Weird tang to them. Maybe me. Do so love fresh green runner beans, though. Especially raw! And home-grown. 😍

Callistemon21

eddiecat78

So basically I've got to slice them thinly or not too thinly and either blanch them or not blanch them!
I think I slice them medium thickness and blanch briefly!

I've got a cheap and cheerful bean slicer.

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Other retailers available (and preferable!)

Yes, whatever!
Sometimes I blanch, sometimes I don't!
I think they keep a bit better if blanched briefly.

eddiecat78

So basically I've got to slice them thinly or not too thinly and either blanch them or not blanch them!
I think I slice them medium thickness and blanch briefly!

I've got a cheap and cheerful bean slicer.

[[https://www.amazon.co.uk/KitchenCraft-Krisk-Runner-Stringer-Slicer/dp/B0001IXA9Y?th=1&tag=gransnetforum-21]

Other retailers available (and preferable!)

I have never blanched any veg but I invested in a vacuum sealer and it is the BEST thing since sliced bread ...in my humble opinion! You can either open freeze whatever veg (for a couple of hours) or not, pop them in a vacuum bag and seal. They are then very flat so no bulky poly bags with clips.

eddiecat78

So basically I've got to slice them thinly or not too thinly and either blanch them or not blanch them!
I think I slice them medium thickness and blanch briefly!

😄😄

I never blanche runner beans. Just cut them and freeze them. It works fine for me.

Beans need to be young to freeze successfully, from my
experience.Didn’t grow any this year, now I wish we had!

So basically I've got to slice them thinly or not too thinly and either blanch them or not blanch them!
I think I slice them medium thickness and blanch briefly!

I always grew enough runner beans to last the year. Blanched one minute, plunged into freezing water, dried throughly and froze with freezer at the lowest temperature.
Unfortunately I haven’t had any runner beans since I had to give up gardening when I was 92.

Don't bother blanching, just straight into the freezer . I do that , no problems .

I agree with you Romola about harvesting when medium sized as do not need stringing and also encourages other to come on.

I love runner beans but not from the supermarket. They are cut too big. DH used to grow them and we ate them when they were still young enough not to need stringing.
But I agree that they are slightly disappointing frozen. Don't slice them too fine.

I have been growing beanz all my adult life. I used to freeze with quick blanch then into iced water (icecubes) then into portioned plastic bags and air removed with a straw before sealing. Not the same as fresh but good enough for tossing in a stirfry... At the moment and in past couple of years = no surplus! I am not sure about the salt method? does all the goodness not end up in the discarded liquid??

I don`t blanch any veg,just pop them in the freezer.

Hi Ladies. Why not make some delicious chutney with your spare beans. It will keep well in the fridge for months. A reminder of summer days in the middle of winter.

For those who have problems with the taste/texture of frozen beans, perhaps it's the cooking method? Blanched and frozen beans - runner or French- seem to need much shorter cooking time than fresh.

I stopped blanching a few years ago. I string and slice, give them a Pat with kitchen paper and freeze in portions. Always taste lovely.

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!

Exactly how I do my beans - perfect results every time!

I saw the price of Runner Beans in our local Veg shop £5.99 for 1KG hope it wasn't for 1 lb Lady next to me looked shocked and said Am I seeing right or do I need Glasses lol!!!

Have you tried salting them?

Slice the beans, put a layer into a crock, (ours is stoneware), and then cover with a layer of salt, then more beans, more salt and a weight on the top. Last all winter and when you want some just soak overnight, like you do with pulses for soup, and cook as normal. Ancient but effective and no electric costs !

Love runner beans - I am so jealous

I slice and freeze but not many as I make runner bean chutney every year.

I just slice and freeze. They are good for several months.