Runner beans are packed full of nutrients, are delicious and grow abundantly but what do you do if you’ve got a huge stock of runner beans that you don’t want to go to waste? The question is, can you freeze runner beans and do they freeze well?
Can You Freeze Runner Beans?
Yes, you can freeze runner beans for up to 12 months. You must blanch them beforehand to prevent any significant loss in texture, flavour and colour before freezing them in bags.
Do Do Runner Beans freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Runner Beans? Yes
How To Freeze Runner Beans
Runner beans are best when they are in their prime; however, you can also freeze them to enjoy them for longer. The most fool-proof way to freeze runner beans is through proper blanching and storage.
To do it just right, you’ll need to understand the perfect timing and steps to do so. Given below is a step-by-step guide to freezing your runner beans.
- Clean: Firstly, rinse the runner beans thoroughly. To do so, place the runner beans in a wire strainer or colander and run them under tap water. It will wash all the dirt and debris from them.
- Trim: Next, trim the ends off. Start by gathering a handful of your runner beans, then line them equally on your cutting board. Make sure you line them up to cut easily at one go.
- Chop: You now want to chop them up. After trimming the ends, you can chop the runner beans into smaller pieces for easier storage. Chopping them now will also save time during your next meal prep.
- Blanch: Now, blanch the runner beans. To do so, submerge your beans in boiling water for just 3 minutes. You’re doing this to lock in the nutrients, flavour and colour. You’re not cooking them.
- Cool: Allow the beans to cool, and then pat dry.
- Freeze: Finally, take the dried beans, place them into airtight bags, and then place them in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Runner Beans
Now you know how to freeze them, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing runner beans to have the best results:
Blanching is Vital
Blanching is an essential part of freezing any vegetables. It ensures you lock in flavour, texture and nutrients. It’s safe to freeze without blanching, but it is not something we would suggest doing.
Shake After 30 Minutes
If you’re worried about your runner beans sticking together but don’t fancy flash freezing them, then give the bag a shake after 30 minutes in the freezer to separate them.
Prep Before Freezing
Do all your prep before freezing to make it easier to use in future. If you trim and slice runner beans, all the prep work will be completed when you need them.
How Long Can You Freeze Runner Beans?
There’s nothing like the taste of fresh runner beans. However, if you need to freeze up your unused runner beans, you can do so for a staggering 12 months in the freezer!
However, if you want to enjoy these bright green and delicious beans while they taste best, use them within 3 to 6 months.
Fresh runner beans that have not been sliced will last for 5 days in the fridge. Once sliced, this will drop to around 3 days.
How Do You Defrost Runner Beans?
The main objective of freezing runner beans is to store them for later use. As important as it is to know how to freeze these beans, it is equally necessary to know how to defrost them.
Given below are two methods by which you can defrost runner beans:
Your first option is to remove the frozen runner beans in a colander and run them under cool water. Keep stirring frequently. In just 5-10 minutes, your runner beans will thaw perfectly and be ready for use.
The other option is to put the frozen runner beans in a microwave-safe container and add some water.
Cover this container with a lid and microwave it for about 45 seconds. After 45 seconds timer is up, you can empty beans in a colander, drain them, and use them.
Note that you should never defrost runner beans by leaving them over the counter for a while. This can lead to spoilage.
Can You Refreeze Runner Beans?
Yes, you will be able to refreeze runner beans. You will be required to follow the same steps except blanching. However, repeated freezing and defrosting can lead to a loss of the taste of runner beans.
Not to forget, they also lose their bright green colour and freshness.
Therefore, try to avoid refreezing runner beans, but you should consume them within a week of refreezing if you have to.
Do Runner Beans Freeze Well?
Yes, they do. These beans freeze well due to their high water content that does well in the freezer. This high water content ensures they never go bad and can be stored away until you need them again.
As mentioned before, when stored perfectly, runner beans can be stored for up to an entire year.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing runner beans or runner beans in general, then these may help:
It’s perfectly safe to freeze your runner beans without blanching – but it’s not something we would suggest you do. By blanching your runner beans, you’ll lock in a lot more of the nutrients and flavour.
You can, but we’d only recommend doing so if you know that you’ll want to eat them whole. To avoid unwanted waste and to save yourself time, we would recommend cutting your runner beans up into portions when freezing them.
