How to Dehydrate Pole Beans

Dry pole beans to preserve them for winter.

Pole beans, a variety of green beans, grow quickly in warm weather. Gardeners can be overwhelmed by a large quantity of beans that is too much for their family to eat. Dehydrating the extra pole beans is an economical storage solution that will help preserve the beans for winter. Dried green beans are also excellent for use in soups and stews and are convenient for camping trips. To rehydrate the beans, simply soak them in warm water for about an hour. When pole beans are rehydrated they are close in taste and texture to canned green beans.

Things You'll Need

• Colander
• Towel
• Knife
• Pot
• Dehydrator
• Glass jar

Instructions

1. Pick the beans. They should be full, but not overripe. If you can see the shape of the beans through the pod they are too ripe.

2. Wash the beans. Put them in a colander and rinse them under running water.

3. Cut off and discard the tips from each end of the pole beans.

4. Slice the pole beans into 1-inch pieces.

5. Blanch the beans. Dip them into boiling water for about two minutes and then immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

6. Dry the beans. Put them in the colander and let them sit until most of the water drips off. Then, lay them out on a towel to finish drying.

7. Lay the pole beans on a dehydrator tray. Spread them around evenly and do not let them clump together.

8. Stack the trays in the dehydrator.

9. Turn on the dehydrator. The temperature should be about 125 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Turn off the dehydrator when the pole beans are dry. This should take around six to 10 hours. The beans should be leathery but not wet inside.

11. Store the beans in a tightly lidded glass jar in a cool dark area.

References

• BackpackingChef.com: Dehydrating Vegetables
• DehydratorBook: How to Dehydrate