Green beans cooked in the microwave are a quick, tasty, and nutritious side dish. You can use them to get your recommended daily serving of vegetables. But in order to keep the green beans’ crunch, you must know how to microwave them properly.
Recipe Summary active: 5 mins total: 10 mins Servings: 4
How to Steam Green Beans in the Microwave
First, you rinse the fresh green beans under running water. Dont dry them off! Then, trim off any rough ends. You can use a knife for this step if you prefer; however, I usually just use my fingers to snap off any rough ends.
In the produce section, look for trimmed fresh green beans in a bag if you don’t want to spend the time trimming the beans. You can even steam the beans in the bag thanks to this simple method of cooking!
Then, put the beans into a bowl or baking dish that is microwave-safe. I typically use a set of small Pyrex glass dishes. Ceramic casserole dishes work well, too.
A tablespoon of butter, some sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder are also added. I don’t even measure the seasonings; a pinch is sufficient. Since the beans are already wet from washing, no water needs to be added. Plus, youll have some liquid from the melted butter.
Next, place the dish into your microwave. Cover with plastic wrap (vent it well), a plate, a paper towel, a microwave-safe cover, etc. For this, I use a microwave-safe cover, but any of the other possibilities works well.
Always be careful when removing the cover. Steam is hot!
How Long to Microwave
If you prefer your regular green beans tender and crisp, microwave them for 4 to 5 minutes. Try 5 to 6 minutes if you want your beans a little softer. Remember, food continues to cook after microwaving. Try the shortest time first because you can always add more time later.
If you prefer your haricots verts or string beans crisp and tender, try microwaving them for two minutes. Try 4 minutes for softer string beans. Because every microwave is unique, you might need to change the time to suit your preferences.
We occasionally add cooked crumbled bacon right before serving — YUM! Serve the beans with a little extra butter if you like, or enjoy them as is.
Try Sautéed Green Beans and Bacon on the Stove if You Don’t Have a Microwave. Super easy and so good!.