Salting Runner Beans

[Hazel at the Hill]

Having now run out of freezer space, I'm looking at alternative ways of storing gluts of produce - and in particular, the tons and tons of runner beans that I'm picking every other day.......!

Partner-in-grime Jane says that her mum used to salt their excess runner beans, but she's hazy on the detail - but there are instructions in Seymour's self sufficiency - but do any of you grapes have first hand experience?

Also open to other suggestions with regard to what to do about my runner bean glut (and 'grow less' is NOT helpful! )

[Alison]

If you have a pressure cooker then you can bottle veg - there's instructions in Margarie Patten's book but I don't have it to hand here and have never done it.

[Hazel at the Hill]

With terrible childhood memories of pressure cookers and exploding rice pudding, I'm terrified of them! (mind you, I think it was an experiment too far for mum too!)

I also read that salted runner beans taste better than bottled - although I'd be happy to be corrected as I've never tasted either.

I'm hoping that I can use airtight tupperware type containers from Wilko rather than a crock pot - but don't want to find that all the runners have gone bad in the depths of winter when I want to eat them!!

[pigletwillie]

Try this from river cottage,


Top and tail them, taking off strings if they have them. Put a layer of salt in an earthenware crock, then a layer of beans, then salt, going on like this, adding as you get the beans picked. The salt will draw the moisture from the beans and turn into a saline slution, which preserves the beans. They need a good long soak and wash before using, but cook as normal fresh beans.

[Snadger]

I would imagine French beans could be stored the same way? May give it a try just as an experiment!

[kentvegplot]

Have just made a batch of runner bean chutney (Delia recipe). Can't try it for a month, so I'll let you know how it tastes

[Hazel at the Hill]

Is that the 'spiced pickled runner bean' recipe, KVP?

[pigletwillie]

I made that last year and its beautiful. Great in sandwiches or with cold cuts etc.

[valmarg]

We also love Delia's Sweet Piccalilli recipe from her original cookery course books, which uses sliced runner beans.

Corned beef and piccalilli sandwiches - yummy!!

valmarg

[Seahorse]

I haven't tried it yet so can't personally vouch for it's usefulness (or not) but what about drying them? I've just bought a dehydrator from Westfalia for about £30 inc delivery, which is substantially less than most readily available models over here (complete with pre-fitted UK plug too!):

http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/hous...13fb7142d1eea6

I think (hope!) it's a worthwhile investment.

Claire

[Alison]

I haven't tried it yet so can't personally vouch for it's usefulness (or not) but what about drying them? I've just bought a dehydrator from Westfalia for about £30 inc delivery, which is substantially less than most readily available models over here (complete with pre-fitted UK plug too!):

http://www2.westfalia.net/shops/hous...13fb7142d1eea6

I think (hope!) it's a worthwhile investment.

Claire

Let us know how you get on with your dehydrator, I keep hanging my nose over one but don't want to pay >£100 as some are but am nervous about buying a cheap one in case it's no good.