How to store fresh beans is a gift from nature.
Dried beans are a nutritious and versatile food, rich in proteins, fibers, and important nutrients. However, to maintain their properties and flavor over time, proper storage is essential.
Storing dried beans not only helps prevent loss of taste and quality but can also extend their shelf life, allowing you to enjoy them in every season.
In this article, we will guide you through some simple tips and practical techniques to ensure your beans remain fresh and ready to use. We will cover topics like choosing the right container, ideal environmental conditions, and best practices for preparation and storage.
Whether you are a cooking enthusiast or a beginner, these instructions will help you make the most of dried beans, transforming them into a key ingredient for your favorite recipes. Get ready to discover how to best preserve this natural treasure!
From June to November, a period when we can stock up on beans to store for the winter, so you’ll have them ready when needed without having to rely on dried beans, which are good.
They need overnight soaking and then require much longer cooking time, so it’s better to store the fresh ones.
Let’s find out how we can store them.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Medium
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter
Ingredients for How to Store Fresh Beans
- 2.2 lbs borlotti beans (fresh in their pod)
- 2 leaves bay leaves
- 1 sprig rosemary
Preparation for How to Store Fresh Beans
Storing fresh beans in the freezer is really simple. Just purchase beans with their pod, remove the pod using the tip of a knife.
Remove the string that holds the pod together and shell the beans.
Then and never throw away the pods, they can be used in many other recipes that will be coming in days.
Wash them very quickly under cold running water and let them dry on a clean towel.
Once dry, store them in freezer bags divided into portions, remember that 100 grams of raw fresh beans will become 200 grams once cooked.
They can be stored in the freezer for at least 6 months, write the date on the bags so you don’t forget.
To store cooked fresh beans, after shelling them, wash them very well under cold running water.
Please do not throw away the pods as they can be used in many recipes.
Now place the fresh beans in a large pot and cover them with cold water up to an inch above the beans themselves.
No salt for cooking the beans, feel free to use aromatic herbs like rosemary and bay leaves, which you will remove after cooking.
From the boiling point of the water, reduce the heat and cook for at least 30 minutes on low heat with the pot uncovered.
Once cooked, you can drain them, let them dry and store them in the freezer in special bags for 6 months.
Or you can place them in sterilized glass jars while they are still hot, cover with their cooking water, and proceed with sterilizing the jars as you would for preserves.
Let the jars cool in the sterilization water, and only when they are cold, take them out, dry the jars, and store them in the pantry.
Remember to never add salt when cooking beans.
Advice
Remember never to salt the cooking water of either fresh or dried beans. Fresh beans have a lot of waste, keep in mind that for 1 kg of fresh beans in their pod you will get 600 grams of beans, but the pods can be used to make broth, for example.
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