A side dish of green beans is definitely a classic. The flavors are neutral and can be paired with almost any entrée. Even kids love them! You can add some lemon zest and sliced almonds to serve up an almondine or add some bacon and onion for a southern-style favorite like the one below. Green beans are versatile and delicious!

Maybe you grew up eating the canned version of green beans like me, or even frozen, but have you ever wondered how to fresh green beans? I’ve got all your green beans questions covered here to help you complete a delicious meal.

How to cook fresh green beans?

Fresh green beans can be blanched, steamed, braised, sauteed, roasted, and even air fried. The cooking method chosen will determine the texture of the green beans. Results may vary between crispy, crunchy, and soft.

Fresh green beans are usually sold with the stems attached. These would need to be trimmed prior to cooking unless you purchase them already trimmed. Check out my video where I show two methods of trimming green beans.

How to blanch green beans

Blanching green beans is a simple, healthy method of preparation. With this method, the green beans maintain color and a crisp texture. Here’s how to do it:

1.     Prepare a large bowl of ice and reserve.

2.     In an appropriately sized pot, bring 4-6 quarts of water to a rolling boil. Add 1-2 tablespoons of salt.

3.     Add trimmed green beans and boil for 3-5 minutes or until tender but crisp.

4.     Drain green beans then immediately plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process.

 After blanching you can lightly sauté in a pan with olive oil or butter to heat through and add additional seasonings if you prefer.

How many pounds of green beans per person?

Assuming that you are serving green beans accompanied by another side dish and/or main dish, you can expect four servings per pound. According to chef-menus.com, that would also equate to a half cup per serving. For my family of eight, I generally pair green beans with a main course and another side dish. I prepare two pounds which will normally feed us at that meal with enough for leftovers.

How to freeze green beans?

Fresh green beans can be frozen fairly easily while maintaining their flavor and freshness. First, trim and cut green beans to the desired size. Next, blanch the green beans to ensure that they maintain their color and texture as much as possible throughout the freezing time. After blanching, pat dry green beans with a kitchen or paper towel to remove as much moisture as possible. Then, lay out blanched green beans on a cookie sheet or other flat pan, and freeze for at least one hour. Lastly, take partially frozen green beans and store in a freezer bag or other freezer-safe dish. You can use these green beans just as you would any other type of frozen vegetable.

Green bean casserole

Green bean casserole is a popular method of preparation, especially around the holidays. A green bean casserole can be made with fresh green beans, or with canned green beans. Our family enjoys this classic green bean casserole recipe with crispy fried onions on top. Although we don’t always eat creamed soups, we sometimes make an exception or the holidays.