How to Freeze Butter Beans

Butter beans can be frozen in the hull or shelled. Young, tender pods are needed to freeze them whole, while older pods will generally need to be shelled before freezing. Either way the process is fairly simple and doesn't require any special equipment. Freezing butter beans when they are in season allows you to purchase them fresh at the best price. If you grow your own, you can have them available year round for serving at dinner anytime.

Things You'll Need

• Butter Beans
• Large stockpot
• Water
• Colander
• Large bowl or double sink
• Ice
• Tongs
• Freezer bags

Instructions

1. Wash the butter beans if you plan to freeze them whole. Break off or remove the ends of the beans, if desired. Shell the beans from the pods if you want to freeze only the beans.

2. Fill a large stockpot 2/3 full of water. Bring to a boil.

3. Place the beans into the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes.

4. Fill a large bowl with 1/2 full with ice and add water. If you have a double sink, this can be done in one of the sinks. You will need the other side to drain the beans.

5. Drain the beans in the colander.

6. Pour the drained beans into the ice water to stop the cooking process.

7. Use the tongs to swirl the beans in the ice water until all the beans are cool.

8. Use the tong to fill freezer bags with the beans. Each bag should hold enough butter beans to serve as a side dish for everyone in your family.

9. Place the bags in the freezer. Allow the beans to thaw before cooking.

Tips & Warnings

• A 3 minute blanche in boiling water is all that is needed to freeze most types of beans. If you own a two-part spaghetti cooker, the type that has the colander basket that you insert into the boiling water, it can make blanching and freezing large amounts of butter beans or other vegetables much quicker.