Drying beans

[FionaH]

Hello Oh wise ones!
Whats the best way to dry runner beans? I have lots of beans that have got too big/stringy, so I am planning on shelling out the beans. Is there any reason why I can't just pop said beans in the freezer or have they got to be dried and stuff?

Thanks in advance
Fi

[zazen999]

If the pods are still sort of greenish, then you can freeze and they need a jolly good boil when you come to use them....for my Pintos last year that was a good 10-15 mins solid.

If the pods are dry and crispy; then you probably could but they might need a good soak overnight before boiling, even if you freeze them as they are on their way to being dry anyway......

[FionaH]

Thanks Zazen, freezing it is then Pods are purplish by the way, (Crosse Violette). Do I need to blanche them first?
Can ya tell I have never done this and am a bit of a way from being a domestic godess??

[Two_Sheds]

(Crosse Violette). Do I need to blanche them first?

No, don't bother.
It's COSSE, no R. It means POD

[FionaH]

No, don't bother.
It's COSSE, no R. It means POD

LOL! thanks Two Sheds

[Jardiniere]

I'm drying all mine - and then you can store them in bags or jars in the dry produce cupboard and leave space in the freezer for things that realy do have to be frozen

[zazen999]

I'm drying all mine too; I have to admit they look stunning and I haven't even started on the Cosse Violettes yet.

[kiwirach]

i've just started to pull the dry pods off my red kidney bean plants. they are all dry and papery....do i still have to dry the beans more, or are they now ok to go into a jar?.

[SarzWix]

I'm sooo pleased with my beans for drying this year It's the first year (out of 3 attempts) that I've got Borlotti's with the pods that gorgeous bright red colour
My Cosse Violette are are being left for drying/seed saving now - my freezer is wedged with as many fresh beans as I can fit in!

I'm contemplating doing some jars of mixed beans in salted water (processed in the canner) so they can be used without all the soaking and boiling business.

[FionaH]

How do you guys dry your beans?

[zazen999]

i've just started to pull the dry pods off my red kidney bean plants. they are all dry and papery....do i still have to dry the beans more, or are they now ok to go into a jar?.

They need to continue drying until you can't make teeth marks on them.........lay out a tray with newspaper and put them on that to continue. Or put them in an old shoe baox.....anything to dry them out properly. If you put them straight into a jar they will go mouldy.

[kiwirach]

thanks for that Andrea

[Two_Sheds]

i've just started to pull the dry pods off my red kidney bean plants. they are all dry and papery....do i still have to dry the beans more, or are they now ok to go into a jar?.

I would.
There will still be small amounts of moisture in then from the atmosphere. Dry them on sheets of newspaper for a week or two.

After you've put them in glass jars, give them a sniff every now and then for mouldiness (I just opened some from last year and a couple are a bit whiffy ... I was in a rush to jar them)

[zazen999]

If you can hide a little bag of silica gel [the ones you get with handbags and shoes] in there, it can help to keep them on the dry side.

[kiwirach]

i've podded the ones i had last night and put them on a tray......i'm sooo excited to see them there as i've never grown them before and i dont want to loose them to mould now, so will leave them out for a couple of weeks, give em a stir round every now and again and then jar them. i hope by the time i harvest all 6 plants, i'll have enough for 2-3 batches of my chilli....i cant wait!!.