How to Freeze Italian Green Beans

Italian green beans keep well in the freezer.

Italian green beans are broad, flat string beans. Italian green beans are 5- to 6-inch pods and are often called Italian Pole or Romano beans, and varieties include Roma, Greencrop and Bush Romano. Italian green beans can be picked fresh and frozen, as they keep well through winter. Italian beans you prepare and freeze yourself will taste much better than frozen store-bought beans.

Things You'll Need

• Large pot
• Knife
• Ice bath
• Freezer bags

Instructions

1. Rinse the green beans in cool water. Pat them dry and cut off the ends. After you've removed the ends, you can keep them long or you can cut them in half.

2. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil. Add the green beans. You can add the beans in batches if you have a large quantity. If you're boiling them in batches, you can use the same water for each batch.

3. Prepare an ice bath. Fill a large bowl with water and ice cubes.

4. Remove the beans from the boiling water with a slotted spoon. Submerse each batch of beans in the ice bath. This "shocks" the beans and stops the cooking process. Keep the beans in the ice bath for three minutes.

5. Remove the beans from the ice bath. Drain them well. Put them in freezer bags and place them in the freezer.

References

• Whatscookingamerica.net: Questions & Answers: What Are Romano Beans and Italian String Beans
• Pickyourown.org: How to Freeze Green Beans
• Green Beans N' More: Freezing Fresh Green Beans