Have crossposted this as it might be of interest to readers of both groups.

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze some, but
from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather complicated,
needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be, for a simple fellow
like me, rather complicated.

So, can I just stick the things straight in the freezer, will they last like
that, or would I be wasting my time?

Quoting from message
posted on 19 Jul 2007 by Alan Holmes
I would like to add:

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze some, but
from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather complicated,
needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be, for a simple fellow
like me, rather complicated.

Blanching veg prior to freezing is standard procedure; just tip them
(chopped across rather than sliced) into boiling water for a couple of
minutes, strain and then spread on a tray to dry off (plaing kitchen
roll underneath speeds this up).

Best frozen open on trays then bagged.

--
..ElaineJ. Home Pages and FAQ of uk.food+drink.indian can be viewed at
..Virtual. http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/ejones/ufdi/index.html
StrongArm Under construction, FAQ, recipes, tips, booklist, links
..RISC PC. Questions and suggestions please, email or to the newsgroup

Alan Holmes wrote:
Have crossposted this as it might be of interest to readers of both groups.

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze some, but
from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather complicated,
needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be, for a simple fellow
like me, rather complicated.

So, can I just stick the things straight in the freezer, will they last like
that, or would I be wasting my time?



Elaine has told you how to do it. It's important because the raw bean
has enzymes that will continue to work unless you blanch them.
Blanching is very easy. I think you are lucky to have them, Alan, and
they'll be so good to have after the season is over.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Elaine Jones" wrote in message
...
Quoting from message
posted on 19 Jul 2007 by Alan Holmes
I would like to add:

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze some,
but
from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather complicated,
needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be, for a simple
fellow
like me, rather complicated.

Blanching veg prior to freezing is standard procedure; just tip them
(chopped across rather than sliced) into boiling water for a couple of
minutes, strain and then spread on a tray to dry off (plaing kitchen
roll underneath speeds this up).

Best frozen open on trays then bagged.

Yes -but don't expect them to be anything like fresh beans!

I prefer to gorge on them while they're growing, frozen ones have always
been a disappointment. I tried salting them one year but the saltf flavour
was always too strong no matter how long I soaked them.

Mary

Giusi wrote:
Alan Holmes wrote:
Have crossposted this as it might be of interest to readers of both
groups.

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze
some, but from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather
complicated, needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be,
for a simple fellow like me, rather complicated.

So, can I just stick the things straight in the freezer, will they
last like that, or would I be wasting my time?



Elaine has told you how to do it. It's important because the raw bean
has enzymes that will continue to work unless you blanch them. Blanching
is very easy. I think you are lucky to have them, Alan, and they'll be
so good to have after the season is over.

I have frozen with and without blanching, the blanched ones seemed a
little better. As regards the taste after freezing my wife and I think
they are fine, make a good change from Winter Brassicas.

In message , Broadback
writes
Giusi wrote:
Alan Holmes wrote:
Have crossposted this as it might be of interest to readers of both
groups.

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze
some, but from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather
complicated, needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be,
for a simple fellow like me, rather complicated.

So, can I just stick the things straight in the freezer, will they
last like that, or would I be wasting my time?



Elaine has told you how to do it. It's important because the raw
bean has enzymes that will continue to work unless you blanch them.
Blanching is very easy. I think you are lucky to have them, Alan,
and they'll be so good to have after the season is over.

I have frozen with and without blanching, the blanched ones seemed a
little better. As regards the taste after freezing my wife and I think
they are fine, make a good change from Winter Brassicas.
They certainly do. It's just there are too many of them.
--
June Hughes

"June Hughes" wrote in message
...

... As regards the taste after freezing my wife and I think they are
fine,

The texture isn't pleasant - in my opinion. The taste isn't bad.

Mary

On Jul 19, 10:58 pm, "Alan Holmes" wrote:
Have crossposted this as it might be of interest to readers of both groups.

Have a surplus of runner beans, and I would like to try to freeze some, but
from what I remember about freezing beans it can be rather complicated,
needing to blanch them, or something, which seems to be, for a simple fellow
like me, rather complicated.

So, can I just stick the things straight in the freezer, will they last like
that, or would I be wasting my time?

I must say that I have always found the *proper* method just too
flipping time and space consuming: who has the space in their freezers
to freeze their glut of beans on trays ? Just freezing them fresh in
bags leaves them quite watery when you are cooking them - not so bad
if you're including them in a recipe with lots of other ingredients,
but a disappointment if you want to eat them just steamed as you would
eat fresh beans.
When I was a kid in SW France, we used to preserve them in jars, and
while they were not as good as fresh, they were nonetheless a treat
with roast meat or steak.
If you're interested, I have found the following recipe for
preserving, which is not bad (translation below)

Prenez des haricots verts, très tendres et frais cueillis. Effilez-
les. Lavez-les. Triez-les par grosseur. Posez-les sur une mousseline,
en tenant les quatre coins. Blanchisez les haricots deux minutes dans
de l'eau bouillante salée. Rafraîchissez-les à l'eau froide. Egouttez-
les. Rangez-les très régulièrement, dans les bocaux pour qu'ils soient
tassés jusqu'aux bords. Faites le plein avec de l'eau bouillie salée
(20 gr par litre). Posez caoutchoucs ou capsules. Fermez les
couvercles. Faites stériliser deux heures à 100°.


Take v freshly picked and tender green beans. Top and tail them, wash
them, sort them by size. Lay them on a piece of muslin, holding all
four corners. Blanch them in boiling salted water for 2 mins.
Refresh them in cold water and drain. Put them neatly into glass jars
until they are tightly packed right up to the edge. Fill up with
boiled salted water (20grs of salt/l). Lay the rubber seal, then
close lids. Sterilise for 2 hours at 100 degrees.

A bit laborious, but I still have lovely memories of opening up a jar
of green beans and a jar of confit d'oie when I was in college.
Michelin starred meal in a minute in a bedsit :-) Ah, we knew how to
rough it in my days :-)

Cat(h)

Following up to "Alan Holmes" wrote:

Have a surplus of runner beans

i grow those kenyan beans instead, seem much nicer to me.
--
Mike Reid
Cutty Sark appeal"http://www.cuttysark.org.uk"
City of Adelaide petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/cuttysarksister/
to email remove clothing.

"The Reid" wrote in message
...
Following up to "Alan Holmes" wrote:

Have a surplus of runner beans

i grow those kenyan beans instead, seem much nicer to me.

The ones I grow are a heritage variety, so there!

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"The Reid" wrote in message
...
Following up to "Alan Holmes" wrote:

Have a surplus of runner beans

i grow those kenyan beans instead, seem much nicer to me.

The ones I grow are a heritage variety, so there!

Someone gave me a packet of Teeny Beanies which really are delicious - they
fatten up at about 5 or 6", are stringless and sweet and plump. I'll grow
them againi. oh - they also fruited before the conventional ones planted
with them.

Mary

Following up to "Alan Holmes" wrote:

The ones I grow are a heritage variety, so there!

whats that Allan, youre a heritage variety? Very likely! Mines a pint
BTW.
--
Mike Reid
Cutty Sark appeal"http://www.cuttysark.org.uk"
City of Adelaide petition
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/cuttysarksister/
to email remove clothing.

On Sun, 22 Jul 2007 09:52:42 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:


"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"The Reid" wrote in message
...
Following up to "Alan Holmes" wrote:

Have a surplus of runner beans

i grow those kenyan beans instead, seem much nicer to me.

The ones I grow are a heritage variety, so there!

Someone gave me a packet of Teeny Beanies which really are delicious - they
fatten up at about 5 or 6", are stringless and sweet and plump. I'll grow
them againi. oh - they also fruited before the conventional ones planted
with them.

Mary

I like the sound of Teeny Beanies. Do you know where the seed can be
obtained?




Pam in Bristol

"Pam Moore" wrote in message
...


Someone gave me a packet of Teeny Beanies which really are delicious -
they
fatten up at about 5 or 6", are stringless and sweet and plump. I'll grow
them againi. oh - they also fruited before the conventional ones planted
with them.

Mary

I like the sound of Teeny Beanies. Do you know where the seed can be
obtained?

I'll have a look in my seed packet box, I don't think I'll be able to reply
tonight, I'll be busy looking up lily beetle :-(

Mary




Pam in Bristol

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...
|
| "Pam Moore" wrote in message
| ...
|
|
| Someone gave me a packet of Teeny Beanies which really are delicious -
| they
| fatten up at about 5 or 6", are stringless and sweet and plump. I'll
grow
| them againi. oh - they also fruited before the conventional ones planted
| with them.
|
| Mary
|
| I like the sound of Teeny Beanies. Do you know where the seed can be
| obtained?


Try Runner Bean Rotbluhende
http://www.allotment.org.uk/greenhou...nner-beans.php

Regards,
Ted R.


|
| I'll have a look in my seed packet box, I don't think I'll be able to
reply
| tonight, I'll be busy looking up lily beetle :-(
|
| Mary
|
|
|
|
| Pam in Bristol
|
|