How to Freeze Scarlet Runner Beans

Scarlet runner beans can be preserved by freezing.

Scarlet runner beans are fast-growers that are both edible vegetables and flowering plants. The plants grow approximately 10 feet tall and produce red and white flowers with dense leaves. Like other bean plants, the scarlet runner bean is very susceptible to frost. To enjoy scarlet runner beans anytime of the year, you can prepare your fresh harvest for freezing. This will preserve your beans so you can thaw and cook them anytime you like. Does this Spark an idea?

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Knife or kitchen shears
Boiling water
Bowl of ice water
Airtight freezer bags

Instructions

- 1
  
  Select only the freshest beans to freeze and preserve. Fresher beans will freeze more easily, and will taste better when you thaw them later.
- 2
  
  Trim the tough ends of the beans. You can use a French bean slicer, a sharp knife or a pair of kitchen shears. The beans can be quite long, so chop them into smaller pieces if you'd like.
- 3
  
  Boil the beans in a full pot of water for approximately five minutes. Fill the pot no more than two-thirds full. While the beans are boiling, prepare an ice-water bath in a large bowl.
- 4
  
  Place the boiled beans directly into a large bowl of ice water. This will shock the beans and stop the cooking process immediately.
- 5
  
  Place the beans in vacuum bags or clear plastic bags that seal tightly. You can store them in your freezer for up to nine months.

Tips & Warnings

Picking beans frequently will force the plants to yield more, increasing your harvest. If picked while still young, the pods are also edible.
Mark the freezer bag with the date the beans were frozen, as well as the projected expiration date.
Do not boil the beans for more than five minutes, or they will be tough and chewy.