Can You Freeze Runner Beans – Here’s How To Freeze Runner Beans With Steps?

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Can You Freeze Runner Beans: A delicious nutritious green vegetable, runner beans are best grown during summer. They can be steamed, stir-fried or boiled to enjoy their freshness and taste.

However, they are not available year-long; not unless you freeze them and store them. Here, we discuss the unique ways of freezing and storing runner beans and how to defrost and use them.

Can You Freeze Runner Beans

Can You Freeze Runner Beans?

Yes, runner beans can be frozen for up to a year. However, to preserve the flavour, colour and texture, they must be blanched and stored correctly in a freezer save Ziploc bags.

How To Freeze Runner Beans?

It is best if you can use fresh runner beans, however, if you have an abundance of supply and you want to enjoy runner beans yearlong, the best way is to blanch them properly and store them. Here’s how to do it.

  • Keep the runner beans on a colander or a wire strainer and place them under running tap water. This will ensure that the beans are free from any dirt or debris.
  • Gather some beans and line them in a uniform manner on your chopping board. Then trim the ends.
  • Chop the runner beans into smaller pieces. This would ensure easier storage and you would also save some time when you prepare any dish with the runner beans.
  • To blanch the runner beans, submerge them in boiling water. Keep them for 3 minutes. This will ensure that the fresh texture, flavour, nutrients and colour are retained.
  • Pat dry when the beans have cooled down.
  • Flash-freeze the dried beans by placing them in a freezer on a baking tray.
  • Place the frozen beans in airtight bags, label them and keep them in the freezer.

How Long Can Runner Beans Be Frozen?

When frozen using the above method, frozen runner beans will be good to use for up to 12 months. However, if you want more freshness, color and texture in them, use them within 3-6 months of freezing.

How To Store Frozen Runner Beans?

If stored well, the frozen runner beans can be stored for up to a year. Follow the following procedure to store the runner beans correctly. If not stored correctly they can develop freezer burn and get spoiled.

  • Place the washed, trimmed, and dried runner beans on a baking sheet before freezing them. Then freeze them until they are hard or fully frozen. This would ensure that the runner beans are not clumped together while freezing.
  • Place the frozen beans into freezer-safe plastic bags or resealable plastic containers. You can also divide the frozen runner beans into portions and wrap them in plastic. This would be convenient while you are defrosting.
  • Next label each plastic bag and write the date of freezing in each of them and place them in the freezer. This would ensure that you defrost and use the frozen runner beans before they are spoiled.

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Tips To Freeze Runner Beans Well

Follow these quick tips while freezing runner beans :

  • If you skip the flash freezing part while freezing your runner beans, shake the freezer bag well after 30 minutes in the freezer to avoid the beans clumping together.
  • Prepping your runner beans before freezing them can be a chore. Use a bean slicer to slice them easily.
  • Do not skip the blanching part because it ensures that the runner beans retain their color, flavor, and texture and stay for a long period.

How To Thaw Frozen Runner Beans?

Frozen runner beans can be thawed in two ways.

  • Place the frozen runner beans in a microwave-safe container. Add water. Microwave for around 45 seconds after covering the container with the lid. You can drain the beans after that and use them.
  • Another way of defrosting runner beans is to run them under cool flowing water. Do so by keeping them in a colander and stirring them once in a while. The runner beans will be defrosted in about 5-10 minutes.
  • Never thaw the frozen runner beans by keeping them on the counter. This would make the beans lose their color, and texture and might also spoil them.

Can You Refreeze Runner Beans?

Yes, you can refreeze the runner beans. Refreezing runner beans would entail following the same steps as freezing, but you won’t need to blanch them. The refrozen runner beans can lose their texture, taste, freshness, and color. It is best to consume the refrozen runner beans within a week.

Do Runner Beans Freeze Well?

Yes, runner beans freeze well as they have high water content. This also means that they will stay fresh for a longer time. If stored correctly the frozen runner beans can be kept in the freezer for up to a year or longer.

However, the quality of the freezer bags or containers matters as they need to be thoroughly airtight. If any amount of air gets into the bag, the beans run the risk of being freezer-burnt.

To know about other varieties of beans and their freezing methods check out our write-up on Can You Freeze Green Beans and clear your doubts.

How To Cook Defrosted Runner Beans?

Runner beans can be cooked in three ways – boil, steam or stir fry.

Boil

  • Boil a pan of salted water.
  • Add the defrosted runner beans and cook them for 5-8 minutes or until tender.
  • You can add half a tablespoon of butter to serve.

Steam

  • Bring to water to boil.
  • Keep the defrosted beans in the steamer basket.
  • Place the steamer basket into the pan and cover it with a lid.
  • Cook the beans for 15-20 minutes or until tender, keeping the heat on low-medium.

Stir-Fry

  • Heat one tablespoon of oil in a large wok or frying pan.
  • Add one teaspoon of chopped ginger or garlic. You can also add spring onions.
  • Add defrosted runner beans to the pan. Season with a pinch of salt.
  • Fry for 3-5 minutes or until tender.

FAQs On Can You Freeze Runner Beans

1. How long should the runner beans be blanched?

Runner beans should be blanched for three to five minutes after preparing them for freezing.

2. Can raw runner beans be frozen?

Yes, raw runner beans can be frozen but the color, texture, and flavor would not be preserved well like blanched runner beans.

3. Do runner beans freeze well?

Yes, the runner breeze freezes well and when frozen after blanching their freshness, color, and texture can be retained.

Summing Up

Hope that the detailed information given above helped you in freezing your fresh runner beans. If you need any assistance regarding ‘can you freeze runner beans’ then let us know in the comments section and we will definitely help you. Visit our website to know more about Can You Freeze Baked Beans and how to freeze and store vegetables.

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