How to Cook Green Beans
If you’re looking for a tasty and easy-to-prepare vegetable to complete your meal, green beans would be a great choice. They can go well with numerous food items, and can be cooked several ways. Here are a few methods to cook green beans.
Boiling
What You’ll Need:
Green beans
Large pot with lid
Salt
Water
Ice water and ice
Strainer
Procedure:
Put the beans under cold water and make sure no dirt residue remains on them.
green beans
You have to remove the string and the tips of the beans before you cook them. First, snap one of the tips, then pull down the string towards the other end. When you reach the end, snap off the other tip.
Cut the tips according to the desired length, or to whatever length your recipe says. You can also leave them whole.
Get the large pot, put water in it, and have medium-high heat under it. The best ratio is to use four liters of water for every kilo of green beans. The more water you have, the shorter the cooking time. Allow the water to boil.
Once the water is boiling, drop the washed beans into it. Add a tablespoon of salt, then cover with the lid. Let it boil for six to eight minutes. Every now and then, check the beans if they’re cooked. Overcooked green beans aren’t very tasty.
While waiting, prepare the ice bath. Put ice cold water and maybe a few ice cubes in a large bowl.
When the beans are cooked, put them in the ice bath for a few minutes, so the cooking process will stop.
Drain the water. Your beans are ready to be served!
Steaming
What You’ll Need:
Green beans
Water
Steamer basket
Pot or saucepan with lid
Procedure:
Wash and clean the beans the same way you did for boiling. Remove their strings and tips, too. Cut them into the length you need for them.
Arrange your beans in a steamer basket.
Get your pot and saucepan and pour tap water in it. It should be about one to two inches from the bottom. Put on the lid and let the water boil. After a few minutes, check if the water is boiling. Take off the lid.
Position the steamer basket on top of the pot, over the boiling water (but not touching it). Cover again, then let it steam for eight to ten minutes. Check every now and then if they’re done. They should be crisp and crunchy, but chewy.
Once they’re done, take the beans from the steamer, and transfer to a plate. Let the cool a bit before serving.
Some Tips
Stir-frying is also a good way of cooking green beans. Just put them in a pan with olive oil and garlic and sautee until they’re a bit wrinkly, but not too soft. The trick is to stir-fry less beans in a pan. Cook them in several batches if you have a lot.
When buying green beans, look for crisp, vivid green ones, with slim and well-shaped pods and small seeds. Avoid scarred or bruised beans.
You can serve beans as a side dish or on their own, with some dips. Try ranch, yogurt or peanut dressing.
Whether you choose to boil or steam them, green beans are certainly a yummy and healthy addition to any meal. Keep these steps in mind, so you’ll end up with delicious vegetables on your dinner plate.