Runner beans

[kizkiz]

Evening all,

I have done some reading on runner beans, but it all seems a bit vague to me. lol

Is it possible to tell from the pic which size is about right? They are on an A4 piece of paper to help with size. I appreciate it's not great, but hopefully you can give me some idea!



Secondly, how exactly do you prepare them for freezing?
Is it 2 mins in boiling water then cool down immediately and straight in freezer?
Do I have to prep them first?

Thanks for any help you can give

[teakdesk]

It all depends on how YOU like them!

I prefer to pick when the seeds inside are very small, probably like the one on the right. However, all yours are fine for eating.

To freeze I check there is no string and then slice on the diagonal to make small pieces about 20mm wide (3/4 inch). Then I just bung them on the fast freeze shelf. No blanching.

[Scarlet]

Same for me really. Pretty much the same as teak desk ^^. I don't like runners when the bean inside is very large, so the one on the right. My beans get thingy sliced and frozen without blanching.

[bearded bloke]

I don't like runners when the bean inside is very large, so the one on the right. My beans get thingy sliced and frozen without blanching.

Same here

[Potstubsdustbins]

That's 100% at this time then.

[arpoet]

What I do is:
Pick em as early in the day and before they get to 8 inch,
put em in a plastic bag for an hour to get rid of the field heat,
then top and tail em and slice em into diamonds and open freeze on a tray and bag up once frozen.
The Younger you pick em the more the plants will produce and the sweeter and more tender they eat.

[Alison]

Is it 2 mins in boiling water then cool down immediately and straight in freezer?

They'll be cooked ready for eating by then which us why I don't like blanching (you end up with over cooked veg). I do as everybody else so far on this thread then steam from frozen, never boil my veg as prefer steamed and find the texture us nicer if cooked from frozen.

[Potstubsdustbins]

I find this very hard to believe .................. all these gardeners agreeing, most unusual.

[kizkiz]

Sorry for late reply, have been away
Thanks for all your help everyone