Green beans are one of the oldest crops, grown by humans. It originated in South America and was brought to Europe at the Great Geographical Discoveries. Seeds of this plant have been found in a Peruvian cave, dating to six thousand years before Christ.
The healing properties of the plant were known by Chinese healers a thousand years before the new era. Avicenna considered green beans to be very good for lung function as well as for the respiratory system in general.
Research on unripe beans has shown that it is an excellent means of regulating blood sugar. Helps with heart diseases, digestive tract, to strengthen the immune system and to regulate cholesterol.
This plant food is rich in cellulose and vitamins C, PP, B1 and B2, essential amino acids and other nutrients. Its taste qualities are well known and make the plant product a popular food.
Green beans are typically a summer product and are then eaten fresh. Apart from being very tasty, fresh green beans are also the most healthy because they contain all of the nutrients of the plant. It is important that they are stored properly.
Ways to store green beans
Fresh green beans can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. This is a period in which its qualities do not change. In order for them not to soften, it is good to place them in a plastic bag.
They should not be washed before being stored. This is done before cooking them. It is also not good to cut them in advance, because in their cut state the vegetables lose their nutrients faster than if they are whole.
Storing frozen vegetables requires more focused preparation. For freezing it is good to choose young and tender pods. They are checked by looking at the grains inside, they must have been formed very recently.
Before placing them in packages in the freezer, it is appropriate to blanch the beans for 2-3 minutes. This treatment destroys the enzymes that change the taste of the beans. After removing them from the boiling water, the pods are immersed in cold water, where they should stay as long as they were on the hob. They are stored in waterproof bags, cut into 3-5 centimeter pieces. This way the beans are stored for up to 10 months.
Another way to store green beans is by canning them. That is done under pressure in suitable jars. To prevent the pods from falling apart, the beans must be well ripened. They are boiled and arranged in jars. The closed jars are sterilized for about 70 minutes.
This way, the stored green beans can be used for a main dish; to be added to a vegetable casserole; for a salad; for garnish; for soup and other recipes.
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