Runner Bean tops?

[piskieinboots]

we all know the joy and beauty of pea tops, but I have just been asked if it works with runner beans - I have no idea - any else know?

[pigletwillie]

Runner beans are poisonous unless well cooked, I can only assume that the foliage is too.

[SarzWix]

Hmmmmm, I've never heard of anyone eating bean foliage before... i don't think I'd like to risk it without seeing some evidence it wouldn't kill me

[piskieinboots]

good point on the poisonous bit

[gojiberry]

As far as I am aware it is only the red kidney beans that are poisonous. However I would not have thought that bean shoots from runner or french beans would have been very palatable. Why bother when there are plenty of beans that are tried and tested like mung, soya and aduki beans, which are excellent when sprouted.

Ian

[lottie girl]

Are they poisonous? We always eat them raw - much nicer than cooked.

[Sanjo]

are they poisonous? We always eat them raw - much nicer than cooked.

so do i. Never thought it was unhealthy. Been doing it for years. Hope it doesn't shorten my life!!!!!

[Alison]

I think that it's kidney beans and the like that are properly poisonous but that even standard green beans have small quantities in them therefore really should be cooked. The word lectins seems familliar in relation to the poison but could have mis-remembered that.

[Flummery]

Broad bean tops are excellent. I'd be wary of runners though.

[JILLY JACKSON]

i always eat runner beans raw too! think i'll do a bit of research.

[lottie girl]

I've just been told it's the seeds that are poisonous once they start developing, so eating them young with immature (or very tiny) seeds is ok. Could go down the root that potatoes, tomatoes, grains etc are poisonous to the human body (as i've read on another website) but then i guess we'd end up eating nothing!!
And how will we know summer has started if we can't eat that first runner straight from the vine?!?!?!?

[bluemoon]

I'm not sure I'd trust the foliage either. It's certainly highly poisonous to some species, rabbits for example. Also, tomatoes and potatoes are related to deadly nightshade so the potential for the plants to be poisonous is there and, in the same way, beans are legumes and related to Laburnum.

[Two_Sheds]

As far as I am aware it is only the red kidney beans that are poisonous. However I would not have thought that bean shoots from runner or french beans would have been very palatable.

Kidney bean is a French bean seed.
Raw bean seeds should be boiled for at least 10 mins in new fresh water to degrade the toxic compound - lectin phytohaemagglutinin - which would otherwise cause severe gastric upset.

This compound is present in many varieties of French bean (and in some other species of bean), but is especially concentrated in red kidney beans and white kidney beans (Cannellini beans).