Freezing fresh green beans is a quick and easy way to preserve them for later use. We’ll walk you through how to freeze green beans, step by step, with or without blanching.
Whether you’re freezing pole beans, bush beans, yellow beans or other snap beans, the method is the same. You need about 1-1/2- to 2-1/2 pounds of green beans per quart of frozen beans.
Fresh green beans are a delicious and nutritious vegetable that can be enjoyed year-round. However, like most fresh produce, they have a relatively short shelf life and can spoil within a week when stored in the refrigerator. This is where vacuum sealing can come in handy!
Vacuum sealing is a process that removes oxygen from food storage bags or containers before sealing them shut This lack of oxygen helps prevent spoilage and extends the shelf life of foods So can you vacuum seal fresh green beans?
The short answer is yes, you can definitely vacuum seal fresh green beans to extend their shelf life for weeks or even months In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into everything you need to know about vacuum sealing fresh green beans, including
- Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Fresh Green Beans
- How to Prepare Green Beans for Vacuum Sealing
- Step-by-Step Process to Vacuum Seal Green Beans
- How Long Do Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans Last?
- Storing Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans
- Thawing and Using Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans
- Common Questions
Let’s get started!
Benefits of Vacuum Sealing Fresh Green Beans
There are several excellent reasons why vacuum sealing is a great option for storing fresh green beans, including:
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Extends Shelf Life: By removing oxygen, vacuum sealing can extend the shelf life of green beans from 1 week to 2-3 months in the refrigerator or 6-12 months in the freezer.
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Maintains Freshness: Vacuum sealing prevents freezer burn and locks in flavor, texture, color, and nutrients.
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Saves Money: Getting more mileage out of your fresh produce purchases saves you money. Less food waste = less money wasted.
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Adds Convenience: Having frozen, vacuum-sealed green beans on hand makes it easy to enjoy them anytime.
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Allows Bulk Buying: Vacuum sealing lets you take advantage of seasonal or sale prices by buying in bulk and freezing extras.
How to Prepare Green Beans for Vacuum Sealing
Proper preparation is an important first step before vacuum sealing green beans to maintain quality:
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Wash and dry: Rinse green beans under cool water and dry thoroughly with a clean towel. Any excess moisture can compromise the seal.
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Trim ends: Clip off the stem and tip end. This prevents the beans from puncturing the bag.
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Blanch (optional): Blanching in boiling water for 2-3 minutes can help set color and soften beans. Shock in ice bath to stop cooking.
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Portion: Spread beans in a single layer on a sheet pan and freeze until solid. Then pack desired amounts in vacuum bags.
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Freeze first: Freezing before sealing sets the beans and prevents crushing so they don’t stick together in a block.
And that’s it! Now the green beans are prepped and ready for vacuum sealing.
Step-by-Step Process to Vacuum Seal Green Beans
Vacuum sealing green beans is simple with a few easy steps:
1. Select Vacuum Bags
Choose vacuum seal bags that are designed to withstand freezing temperatures. Bag sizes that lay flat like 8×10 or 11×16 work well.
2. Load Green Beans
Place the pre-frozen individual green bean portions in the vacuum bags. Don’t overstuff – leave at least 3 inches of space at the top.
3. Vacuum and Seal
Follow manufacturer instructions to vacuum excess air out and seal the bag shut. The beans should be tightly packed.
4. Date and Label
Use a permanent marker to write the contents and freeze date right on the bag. This lets you easily identify items.
And that’s all there is to it! Now you can pop the vacuum-sealed green bean bags straight into the freezer for long-term storage.
How Long Do Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans Last?
One of the biggest benefits of vacuum sealing green beans is the extended shelf life compared to other storage methods. Here are some general guidelines on how long vacuum-sealed green beans last:
- Refrigerator: 2-3 months
- Freezer: 6-12 months (at 0°F or below)
- Deep Freezer: 24 months (at -4°F or below)
The freezer times can vary based on the quality of your vacuum sealer and freezer temperature. Sealed beans stored in a deep freezer at an ideal constant temperature can potentially last up to 2 years.
Regardless of storage location, keeping vacuum-sealed green beans frozen is ideal for maintaining freshness as long as possible.
Storing Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans
To get the maximum shelf life out of your vacuum-sealed green beans, follow proper storage methods:
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Place bags flat: Store bags flat rather than stacked to prevent crushing.
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Freeze immediately: Don’t let sealed bags sit out before freezing. Quickly freeze and transfer to long-term storage.
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Use oldest first: Be sure to rotate stock and use oldest vacuum-sealed bags first. Add new packages behind existing ones.
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No temperature fluctuations: Avoid repeatedly opening the freezer. Temperature changes degrade quality over time.
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Avoid freezer burn: Use a deep freezer at a stable 0°F or below. Use bags designed for long freezing times.
Following these tips will help maintain the flavor, texture, color, and nutrients of your frozen green beans for as long as possible.
Thawing and Using Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen green beans, here are some tips:
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For safety, thaw sealed bags in the refrigerator overnight rather than at room temperature. You can also submerge bags (sealed) in cool water.
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Cook frozen beans directly in soups or stews. The cooking liquid will thaw them.
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For sautéing or roasting, thaw beans first or increase cook times for frozen.
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Once thawed, use within 2-3 days. Don’t refreeze thawed green beans.
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For best flavor and texture, use vacuum-sealed frozen green beans within 1 year. Quality declines over time.
Vacuum-sealed beans make easy additions to so many meals! Enjoy them simply steamed, sautéed, roasted or in casseroles any time of year.
Common Questions about Vacuum Sealing Green Beans
If you’re new to vacuum sealing fresh produce like green beans, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Do you need to blanch green beans before vacuum sealing?
Blanching is optional but can help soften beans and lock in color. Not blanching also saves time! Both methods work.
Can you vacuum seal green beans without freezing first?
It’s best to pre-freeze beans before sealing so they retain shape and don’t crush into a solid block.
How can you tell if vacuum-sealed green beans have gone bad?
Check for an oddly bulging or leaking bag and any unusual odors. Discard if beans are mushy or discolored inside.
Can you refreeze thawed vacuum-sealed green beans?
Refreezing thawed green beans compromises quality and texture. Enjoy within 2-3 days or cook into dishes rather than refreezing.
Should you wash green beans before or after vacuum sealing?
Always wash fresh greens beans first and make sure they are fully dry before vacuum sealing for best results.
Enjoy Preserved Freshness with Vacuum-Sealed Green Beans
Vacuum sealing is clearly a great way to extend the shelf life of fresh green beans for months beyond their usual short lifespan. With proper preparation, sealing, freezing, storage, and thawing, you can enjoy restaurant-quality beans long after the season has passed.
Vacuum sealing locks in peak texture, vibrant color, essential nutrients like vitamins A, C and K, and the delicious flavor that makes green beans so versatile and enjoyable.
So next time you come across farm-fresh green beans at the market or grocery store, grab extra and vacuum seal them. Having a stash of perfectly preserved green beans ready in the freezer will let you quickly add them to soups, stews, salads, sides and more for nutrient-packed meals all year long. Give vacuum sealing fresh green beans a try – your taste buds and wallet will thank you!
Why do you blanch beans?
Blanching green beans for freezing reduces enzyme action and helps to preserve vitamins in the beans. In the book Stocking Up III, the author notes a University of Illinois study that found:
Blanching improves flavor, too, especially for longer storage. As an experiment, I vacuum sealed and froze both blanched and unblanched beans. The blanched beans had a much nicer texture, even after longer storage (over a year).
By two years, the unblanched beans were bitter and very chewy. The blanched beans had very little change in storage and were still tasty.
When I’m freezing green beans, I prefer to blanch them. Many people don’t bother to save time. I flash freeze and vacuum seal my green beans for ease of use and best storage quality.
FAST FREEZE your beans on a pan before putting them in a bag or container. This way, they won’t stick together as much in the bag. This makes it easier to pour out only what you need. When I use a whole package at once, it’s nice to be able to pour out loose beans instead of a “bean brick.”
During the growing season, pick green beans every two to three days to keep them producing. Look for beans that are full sized but not overgrown. Runty green beans get limp, and overgrown green beans are stringy and tough.
How big is too big to freeze? When we think our beans are too ripe, we snap them instead of cutting them. If they snap cleanly and easily with no strings, they’re good.
You can still eat the overgrown, stringy beans, but they are chewy. Ours go to the compost. (If you grow a type of beans that have strings on them no matter what size, take the strings off before cutting the beans into pieces.) ).
I do recommend washing your beans before freezing. Even if you garden organically, contaminants drift in on the wind. After washing or blanching, make sure to dry your beans well. Excess water means more ice crystals in your beans. I spread my beans on a kitchen towel and pat dry, or use the salad spinner.
My sons prefer to cut the ends and beans with a knife on a cutting board. I prefer to snap the beans by hand. Either works just fine. You can freeze green beans whole with the stem cut off, or you can cut them into bite-sized pieces.
See “How to Grow Lots of Pole Beans for Easy Picking and Preserving” for green bean growing tips.
Freezing Green Beans Without Blanching (Freezing Green Beans Raw)
- Wash green beans in cool water. Drain well.
- Be sure to cut or snap the beans to the length you want.
- Date and label freezer bags. You can write on the bags before you fill them if you know how many you will need. ).
- Put as much air as you can out of the freezer bags with green beans.
- Lay bags flat in a single layer for quick freezing.
- You can keep your freezer neat by putting the bags back into a bin or bigger bag after they are frozen solid.
- Use within a year for best quality.
