Monday, July 20, 2009

green beans part 2- processing them.

since some of you have asked how we got our beans ready for the freezer here's what we did. I have used this book for a long time its a great resource on how to prep almost anything. She also tells how to get seeds for next year, and how to order those plants you can't get locally, theres recipes, contacts groups and all kinds of information. I highly recommend it its a fun read too. I have taken it to softball games and just set and read it.She gives lots of information on living off the land, collecting rain water raising livestock, making soap, etc etc etc.




we cleaned the beans, I just filled the sink with clean water and gave them a quick rinse and shake, to get off the dirt, and snapped off the ends.




we blanched them in boiling water for three minutes, this stops the beans from decaying. I basically did about two cups at a time, this kept the quantity small enough to work with quickly, and kept us moving along .




after we boiled them for three minutes - no longer-, we scooped them out with a slotted spoon and plunged them into an ice bath- a big bowl with ice water. This stops the cooking process and makes them really nice and green.



after chilling in the ice bath for a couple of minutes we took them out and dried them off a bit on a dish towel , we just rolled them up int he towel and squeezed gently.




we filled our freezer bags, and pressed out the air, then put them in my freezer- also write on them whats in the bag and date processed, they keep about a year or more in the freezer.



I had 10 bags of these when done. I only filled the big freezer bags half way, because that's about a pound and usually what we eat at a time. The smaller size freezes a bit more evenly too. Just make sure you roll the bag up and press the air out.

11 comments:

Lisa said...

I can't tell you how many times I've picked up that book! I must just go ahead and buy it!

Thanks for this post. We were just green bean picking the other day.

Lisa :)

Lois Christensen said...

I need to find that book! Looks like a great thing to do with the beans. If I get more than I can use, I'm going to do this!

Beverly said...

looks like a good book and your green beans look so good!

dongdong said...

Thank you for sharing. You explain it so well. I always wondered what exactly blanched did. Any idea how to preserve lettuce? Mine always go bad.

Lois Christensen said...

Just wanted you to know I'm doing this today! Picked tons of green beans from my garden! Thanks so much for posting how to do this! This girl from Queens is learning to love gardening. My dad was a farmer in Germany as a child and teenager and he would be so impressed to see this!!! Thanks again!

Lois Christensen said...

One more comment. Just did mine! It was so easy! Need to definitely get that book! Thank you!

Madeline said...

I just love that book! I refer to it often. I'll have to plant more beans, so I can freeze some.

Blessings each day said...

Thanks for the follow through info, Toni.

Read where someone only cooked them for a few minutes before eating them, but Michael likes them cooked FOREVER till they are really soft. We didn't freeze any, just cooked and ate them right from the garden. Do you have to cook them less from the freezer?

blesings,

marcy

Anne Marie said...

seriously Toni, this has GOT to be my favorite post of yours!
love it!!
your kids are so darn cute, and i LOVE LOVE LOVE that book!

outdoor.mom said...

oh what a neat process! great post :-) you go girl!!

kado! said...

Yummy! I wish I had that many fresh green beans to freeze....lucky you!