Cooking Green Beans

Photo: Richard Esguerra – CC BY-SA 2.0 | cropped to square

BEFORE COOKING:

Immediately before cooking, clean the green beans by removing the strings, trimming the ends, and rinsing under cold water.

COOKING:

Place the green beans in a small amount of cold water if you want their flavour and aroma to infuse the broth (for example, when making soup). If cooking the green beans as a standalone dish, add them to boiling water – this helps retain most of their juices. Fresh green beans should be cooked for approximately 5–15 minutes (younger ones cook faster, older ones may require more time). Start timing from the moment the water returns to a boil. Immediately after the water boils, add salt (about 2 teaspoons per litre of water). It is also advisable to add a little sugar (about 1 teaspoon per litre of water). Cook uncovered. To check if the green beans are cooked, insert a fork or knife. If it goes in easily, they are done.

AFTER COOKING:

After cooking, drain the green beans and rinse them under cold water. The cooking water, which contains nutrients, can be used for sauces, soups, etc.

SERVING SUGGESTION:

Green beans make a great accompaniment to meats, poultry, or fish. Serve them sprinkled with chopped parsley and drizzled with melted butter. They can also be drizzled with olive oil, lemon juice, and sprinkled with grated Parmesan cheese.

Enjoy your meal!

Check out how to cook frozen green beans.