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Learn how to blanch green beans with fresh green beans with this simple method. They can be used right away or made for future use for meal prepping.

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overhead shot of blanched green beans in a mesh strainer over a glass bowl on top of a brown cutting board to show the last step in how to blanch green beans

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How to Blanch Green Beans

This is a really simple method with a step-by-step guide to show you how to blanch green beans.

Blanched green beans are a really easy way to meal prep vegetables for lunch or dinner. You can effortlessly add some extra healthy veggies and nutrients to your diet!

Blanched means the fresh beans are partially cooked so they have a crisp-tender texture and keep their bright green color.

Green beans go by a variety of names, such as String Beans, Snap Beans, or Haricot Verts. Wax Beans are yellow beans and then there are also Purple Green Beans which start out purple but turn green when cooked.

There are so many delicious uses for blanched green beans. Here are a few tasty ways to enjoy them:

as a Meal Prep Side Dish
Nicoise Salad
Green Bean Salad
Three Bean Salad
Green Bean Casserole – we love this delicious gluten free green bean casserole recipe!
Add to stir fry or pasta dishes
or freeze for later to enjoy any time of year

I often add blanched green beans to my weekly meal plans, they go great with so many different types of meals, cuisines, and proteins.

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Ingredients for Blanched Green Beans

Fresh Green Beans
Ice Cold Water
Fine Sea Salt

This recipe calls for one pound of green beans but you can easily double or triple the recipe depending on your needs.

overhead shot of timed green beans on a brown wood cutting board with a white bowl of untrimmed green beans next to it to show the ingredients for how to blanch green beans

Calorie breakdown

Raw Green Beans – 35
Fine Sea Salt – 0

Total Calories/Serving – 35

*Calories are approximate and vary depending on specific products/brands used and whether measured by volume or by weight/grams. Calories were calculated using LoseIt App.

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

How to Make Blanched Green Beans

Step 1 . Use a sharp knife to trim the tops of the green beans. Fill a large pot of water, about halfway, and bring to a boil.

Step 2. Fill a large bowl of ice water to make an ice bath. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by layering it with paper towels.

Step 3. Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add the salt to the boiling water. Add half the green beans and boil for 2 minutes. Then use a slotted spoon or spider strainer to remove the green beans from the boiling water and transfer them to the ice water bath. Leave the green beans in the water for a minute then transfer the green beans from the ice water and place them in a colander to drain.

Step 4. Transfer the green beans to the paper towel-lined cookie sheet in a single layer. Pat dry with a paper towel, if desired.

Step 5. Repeat the blanching process with the remaining green beans until all of the green beans are cooked.

Learn how to blanch green beans with fresh green beans with this simple method. They can be used right away or made for future use for meal prepping. Blanched green beans can be frozen or added to salads, soup, green bean casserole, and even pasta dishes. Fresh green beans a versatile healthy vegetable that you can add to any meal for a nutrition boost. Green beans are a staple in a low calorie diet! Simple vegetable recipe from @lowcalicious - visit lowcalicious.com for more low calorie recipes.

How to Freeze Green Beans

To freeze fresh green beans, first, follow the method through blanching step 4. Then, once they’re dry, arrange them in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze them until they’re frozen solid.

You can store the frozen green beans in freezer bags for 6-8 months.

This is a great method to try if find yourself with extra green beans after a trip to the Farmer’s Market, grow your own green beans, or get a great deal on fresh green beans at the grocery store!

Tips for preparing for making this recipe

Feel free to cut the green beans in half if you don’t want to keep them whole. I suggest you cut them after they’re blanched because smaller pieces of beans will cook faster and may overcook. If you’re meal prepping, keep them whole or cut them into one- to two-inch pieces.
You do not need to add any olive oil to this recipe because the fresh beans are getting boiled. It’s a nice low-fat vegetable recipe!
Decrease the cooking time if you have really thin or small green beans.
Use plenty of ice and add more ice cubes if needed! The ice-cold water stops the cooking process.
This cooking method produces crisp-tender beans since they’re only partially cooked. If you’d like tender green beans, just cook them a couple of minutes longer. 1-2 minutes should get you fully cooked green beans and the results you’re looking for.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below

How to Blanch Green Beans Video Tutorial

Favorite Green Bean Recipes

Air Fryer Green Beans
Roasted Green Beans
Grilled Green Beans

How to Blanch Green Beans

Follow this simple method and step-by-step guide for How to Blanch Green Beans in just 5 easy steps for perfect crisp tender green beans.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Total Time 15

Serving Size

Equipment

Ingredients

1 pound fresh, raw green beans
1 Tablespoon fine sea salt

Instructions

Use a sharp knife to trim the tops of the green beans. Fill a large pot of water, about halfway, and bring to a boil.
While the water is heating up, fill a large bowl of ice water to make an ice bath. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by layering it with paper towels.
Once the water comes to a rolling boil, add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to the boiling water. Then add half the green beans. Boil the green beans for 2 minutes.
Remove the green beans with a slotted spoon and place the green beans in the ice water bath. Leave the green beans in the water for a minute.
Then, remove the green beans from the ice water and place them in a colander or mesh strainer to drain.
Transfer the green beans to the paper towel-lined cookie sheet in a single layer.
Repeat the blanching process with the remaining green beans until all of the green beans are cooked.

Video

Notes

Do not cook longer than 2 minutes for blanched green beans. Otherwise, you’ll have fully cooked, boiled green beans.
The extra step of drying the green beans ensures your green beans will not add any extra water to the dishes you will be using them in.
I have not tried this cooking method for blanched beans with frozen green beans.
Use the blanched green beans in a recipe right away, eat as-is, or store in meal prep containers until ready to eat.