Once you know How to Boil Green Beans perfectly you’ll never buy canned again! Fresh green beans are boiled in salted water until they are beautifully tender yet still crisp. Quickly prepare this healthy side dish for dinner, or freeze to have on hand for easy recipes.
Whether you want a quick side dish, or need some fresh green beans to add to a recipe… this is the quickest and easiest way to boil green beans!
Reading: Boil green beans how long
They come out perfectly crisp and tender and not overly mushy or bland.
In less than 10 minutes they’ll be ready to enjoy.
All you need to do is simply trim, boil, and serve!
Table of Contents
How to Boil Green Beans
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The basic steps for boiling green beans are simple to follow. Please see the recipe card below for more detailed ingredient amounts.
Snap or Trim the Ends
You can gather a few green beans at a time and cut off the ends with a knife. Or, snap them off individually with your hands. Remove about ¼-½ inch from the end. It is only necessary to trim off the stem end, but you can also take off the tail end if preferred.
Trim green beans one at a time with a knife. Or trim multiple green beans at a time.
Boil in Water
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Make sure it’s large enough to comfortably fit the green beans.
Carefully add the beans to the water using a slotted spoon and boil for about 4-5 minutes, or until tender yet still crisp. They’ll also start to turn a beautiful bright green color. Be sure to start checking on them after 3 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.
Add green beans to a pot of boiling water. Boil green beans for 3-5 minutes.
Drain and Dry
Pour the water and green beans into a colander in the sink so that it can drain. You can also pat the beans dry to ensure all of the extra water is removed before serving.
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Learn How to Blanch Green Beans to stop the cooking process!
Meal Prep and Storage
- To Serve: Top the warm green beans with a pat of butter and salt. One pound of green beans will result in 4 servings.
- To Prep-Ahead: Wash and trim the ends off of the green beans and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days in advance.
- To Store: Seal leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
- To Freeze: Arrange the cooked green beans in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 4 hours. Then transfer them to freezer-safe ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Warm in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat, or simply microwave until hot.
FAQs
Expert Tips and Tricks
- Cut a few. Line up the ends and trim 4-5 green beans at a time.
- Boil before adding. This ensures you know exactly how hot the water is and exactly how long to boil the green beans.
- Look for green. When they are done cooking, the veggies will turn a vibrant green color.
- Meal prep. Make up a big batch and freeze to have on hand for the future.
- Keep a close eye. Watch carefully once they have boiled for 3 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.
How to Use Boiled Green Beans
Put these boiled green beans to use in some easy recipes:
Green Bean Casserole
Green Beans Almondine
To dip in hummus or ranch dressing.
Niçoise Salad
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