Original publish date: Jul. 26th, 2010

From the garden to the freezer: with this large amount of green beans we'll be eating home grown garden fresh green beans all winter!  It's been a great year for the garden with the early spring and hot sunny days so far this summer, and so we have an abundance of green beans.

Bill's best tip for savoring your green beans year round is quite simple: blanche and then freeze!

1. Pick all your green beans when they are ripe, and wash all the dirt off.

2. While you're washing your beans have a full pot of water heating to a boil.

3. Also be sure to have a full bowl of ice water close by

4. When the water boils carefully add all the beans and bring back to a boil.

5. Once the boil returns quickly remove and strain the beans.

6. Add the strained beans to the ice water and gently toss until cold.

   

7. Remove the beans from the ice water and prepare the beans either French cut or Julian cut. 

9. Store these bags in the freezer until you are ready to use them on that cold winter day! When you are ready to eat your beans, simply place the frozen beans back in some boiling water to reheat.

10. When water returns to a boil your beans are ready to strain and eat!


Stay posted for more helpful garden and cooking tips from Bill!