French bean size - personal preference?

[chris]

Erm not sure... onlyh ave ever used kidney beans from tins! Thanks for the link, really useful info

[chris]

Do fresh beans contain that toxin? I only boiled those fresh beans (that I'd frozen when picked earlier that morning) for 2 mins, and they were cooked just right....

[chris]

aaaaaaaaand also, is food better (i.e. in terms of nutrient value) fresh rather than being left on the plant to dry out?

EDIT: - found from the wikipedia link:

Compared to the dry beans, they provide less starch and protein, and more vitamin A and vitamin C. The green beans are often steamed, boiled, stir-fried, or baked in casseroles.

[rustylady]

Do fresh beans contain that toxin? I only boiled those fresh beans (that I'd frozen when picked earlier that morning) for 2 mins, and they were cooked just right....

Fresh beans are fine boiled or steamed until just tender. But why on earth did you freeze them?

[chris]

wow! that link is amazing. I didn't know butter beans were broad beans! We do use a lot of beans (mainly butter, kidney, adzuki, and canelini (sp?)) - definately going to grow some for drying next season

[chris]

Fresh beans are fine boiled or steamed until just tender. But why on earth did you freeze them?

didn't plan on using them for a while, until I'd phoned the wife and she said she'd like them that day, then I forgot to take them out until dinner time

[chris]

next up: another question

If you leave the bean on until it's just about to dry out... and then pod them fresh, surely some of the lectin will have started to form? Do these need cooking slightly longer than normal then?

[Two_Sheds]

Shelly beans need a 10 min boil to destroy the lectin. Same as for dried beans.

There is lectin in the fresh French bean, but not as much as in the shelly. You could eat a few raw with no ill effects, but don't overdo it. They need a boil

[chris]

Hmm, but boiling for 10 mins will turn them into mush surely? Thanks, next batch i'll boil for longer

[Alison]

Hmm, but boiling for 10 mins will turn them into mush surely? Thanks, next batch i'll boil for longer

You only need to do the 10 minute thing if you're eating bean seeds, if you're eating immature green type beans then you can just steam for a few minutes and eat nice and fresh with no worries, would agree, they'd be foul if boiled to death, reminds me of school dinners!