French Beans

[Gem]

I was just wondering when is best to pick french beans. For the first time mine have not been eaten or died off and I have just found them doing rather well amongst my corn and butternuts.
They are about 6 inches long already but still look quite thin and the beans are not very developed yet..

Any ideas?

Gem

[yvette]

I always pick french beans when they are quite small, as otherwise they can be a bit tough - I wouldn't let them get any bigger than 6 inches myself. They don't necessarily develop obvious beans like broad beans do. Why not pick a few and taste them and see what they're like?

[Mrs Moustoir]

Yes, pick them now. I find as the beans develop, the pods toughen up so unless you want to eat the beans or save seed, eat them now.

[Millymollymandy]

I pick mine smaller than that (unless you have a longer variety). Young and tender is the best.

[jim]

Dear Gem,

Now!!!

And the next lot at about 4 inches, the younger the pod the more tender and least cooking,

Love and Peace
Jim

[Gem]

Haha thanks guys, I will pick them tonight. Only a few are that big so shouldn't be too many tough 'uns. Still cant believe I found them hiding amongst the butternuts!

[Millymollymandy]

How do you guys cook them? I've just discovered recently that it's much better to bring water to the boil, dunk them in for a few minutes cos they retain the nice green colour. If I bring them to the boil from cold water they go a more dull colour and the texture, whilst still nice, isn't as good.

Perhaps you're saying duh cos that's how you normally cook them?

[Odsox]

DUH

I was taught (can't remember by whom) that vegetables that form above ground should be put in boiling water to cook, and those that form under ground should be put in cold water and brought to boiling.

So beans, peas, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks etc etc drop into boiling water.
Potatoes, parsnips, turnips, carrots, onions etc place in cold water.

Bet someone disagrees though.

[Gem]

I will flash boil of stir fry them for a quick min or two in already hot oil/water. Much crispyer that way.

Mmmm beans for tea :)

[Mrs Moustoir]

I steam mine but my late Mum would have agreed with you Odsox! Straight into fast boiling water for 'em.

[Odsox]

Yes, I forgot steaming ... what a duh brain.
My M-in-law gave us a steamer a couple of years back and I do a lot of steaming now, especially broccoli and cauliflower.
Still like my French beans briefly boiled though as I don't like them squeaking when I bite into them and I don't steam peas cos they fall through the holes.

[Millymollymandy]

Hmmmm I just cook how my mum always cooked and that was to put all veg in cold water and bring to the boil. Apart from those things that I steam that is. Only recently discovered putting them into boiling water cos the small peas and broad beans only needed a minute and not a lot of cooking.

[battybird]

My mum used to put them in cold water and bring them to the boil, then simmer them for ages till soggy...I think bicarb also used to be added to cabbage?? Couldnt have been much nutrition left!!! I do the same as Oddsox but dont know where I got it from either
If you pick the beans small there will always be some that get missed which you can use for beans or next years plants! They are much nicer small and green. Maybe you should deliberately plant them with the corn and butternuts next time if thats where they want to grow!

[Gem]

I did plant them around corn because I was trying the three sisters method but the chooks dug them all up! So they have obviously germinated anyway but not where I planted them! :)

Same thing happened with the beetroots as well, have got them all over the place now but they seem to be doing ok so I'm not complaining ;)

[wulf]

I was taught (can't remember by whom) that vegetables that form above ground should be put in boiling water to cook, and those that form under ground should be put in cold water and brought to boiling

I can't think of any particular reason for that. When boiling veg I tend to bring water to boil in the kettle (because I think it is a more efficient mechanism) and pour it on before turning on the heat underneath.

Wulf