How long do you cook green beans?

As a general rule, you can cook them from raw to crisp-tender in about 4 minutes. This is especially true in steaming and boiling. That said, there are several ways to cook green beans and cooking times will vary depending on method.

Are String Beans and Green Beans the same thing?

Yes, string beans and green beans are the same thing. Green beans are a type of snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) which can actually be yellow or purple too. You can read more about varieties and buy green bean seeds here . Haricot Vert, snap beans, wax beans and filet beans, are the same thing as fresh green bean. Haricot Vert are more slender and tender and meant to be picked when they are smaller. In the market, wax beans are usually yellow.

Are pole beans and bush beans the same thing?

Green beans can be bush beans or pole beans, they just have different growing habits. Green beans are tender annuals in the Leguminosae family, which also includes garbanzos, peas, lentils, and peanuts. They’re eaten fresh (as opposed to dry beans which are grown for their mature bean seeds.) You can read more about growing green beans here.

Why are green beans tough?

If you grow your own beans, and occasionally are not picked early enough they can be quite tough and stringy. This happened to me and they got very large and too tough. In this case I recommend a southern style of cooking them. To paraphrase how to do this, you remove the strings, cut them into shorter lengths and then braise them slowly in liquid (often with smoked pork) until they are very tender. Another reason for tough beans is using shelling beans which are different than bush beans. Shelling beans have a woody pod and they are definitely tough. Lastly, it is important to note fresh green beans do not have the same texture as canned green beans. They have less mushy texture.

Sauteed Green Beans Recipe - Healthy Seasonal Recipes

Description

This delicious green bean recipe is a perfect healthy side dish. They are cooked in one pot with garlic, olive oil and a little spice. It is one of the best green bean recipes because it is both quick and delicious!

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flake, or to taste
1.5 pounds green beans, trimmed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
2 tablespoons water

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Instructions

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add red pepper flake and stir to coat the pepper in the oil.
Add green beans and cook, stirring often until the beans are blistering and browning in areas, 5 to 7 minutes.
Add garlic and salt and cook, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant and browning, about 30 seconds.
Add water and immediately cover with a well-fitting lid or sheet of aluminum foil. Steam the green beans, covered, until they are bright green and crisp tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

Make Ahead Instructions

1. Blanch green beans for 1 minute in boiling salted water.
2. Shock in an ice bath to immediately stop them from cooking. Drain well in a colander.
3. Keep refrigerated in a large storage container or ziplock bag for 1 day.
4. Before using in the recipe, make sure they are completely dry (use a clean dish towel or paper towels.)
5. Follow the instructions in this recipe but do not add the water and steam covered. They will be tender enough after searing them. Note that the beans will not brown as well as they sear, but they will still be quite tasty.

To Trim Haricot Verts or Green Beans: The stem end of the bean is tough and fibrous. This must be removed. To do so easily, line up a handful of the beans with the stems facing the same direction. Cut them off all at once. No need to cut off the pointy tip.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Category: side dish
Method: stove top
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 70
Sugar: 0 g
Sodium: 230 mg
Fat: 5 g
Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
Carbohydrates: 6 g
Fiber: 2 g
Protein: 1 g