As I said above, if I'm going to eat them within a few weeks I don't blanch. If I want to keep them any longer than that I do blanch.
If I'm preparing a large batch I'll do things properly and blanch them. If its just one or two portions I don't - therefore I make sure I label them showing which method I've used and a use by date.
The blanched ones are a bit better in texture in my opinion, but my other half says he can't tell the difference.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Am I the only one who hasn't had a fresh home grown runner bean this year? The runner and french beans were a complete disaster! My other half blames the weather, too cold and not enough water! "What here in sunny Devon".
Well I'm in sunny Devon - Teignbridge too. My climbing French beans have produced 2 or 3 beans, those that survived the slugs and monsoon. 2 runners survived, I've had maybe a pound or so off them, and that's only been in the last couple of weeks. Have had 3 ripe gardener's delight so far, though a beef tomato is finally ripening...am now cutting courgettes. Cucumbers have woken up too...just in time for the first frosts!
I can't pick them quick enough before another bowl full's ready to be picked. There's more than enough frozen and the plants are still flowering. Noticed some beans yesterday hiding behind the leaves which have got a tab bit on the large size so have thrown in the towel to let them go to seed before I start looking like a bean.
Havent tried putting beans in freezer without blanching them first. Will give it a go next year as they are all finished for this year. Im relying on me remembering to do it though. Out for lunch today so no bean eating today. My daughter starts her uni course on monday so its a wish you luck lunch really.
My Runner beans just keep on giving this year! I really is a fantastic year for them! There must be 20+ flowers ready to open and set (although the production of beans will gradually reduce) so I should carry be able to on eating them this month I am planning to grow a green manure (hungarian grazing rye) but I just can't get to doing it yet due to the runners and courgettes! Have anything eles been successful this year?
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As I said above, if I'm going to eat them within a few weeks I don't blanch. If I want to keep them any longer than that I do blanch.
If I'm preparing a large batch I'll do things properly and blanch them. If its just one or two portions I don't - therefore I make sure I label them showing which method I've used and a use by date.
The blanched ones are a bit better in texture in my opinion, but my other half says he can't tell the difference.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Am I the only one who hasn't had a fresh home grown runner bean this year? The runner and french beans were a complete disaster! My other half blames the weather, too cold and not enough water! "What here in sunny Devon".
If you have a crop to pick...
Havent tried putting beans in freezer without blanching them first. Will give it a go next year as they are all finished for this year. Im relying on me remembering to do it though. Out for lunch today so no bean eating today. My daughter starts her uni course on monday so its a wish you luck lunch really.
My Runner beans just keep on giving this year!
I really is a fantastic year for them! There must be 20+ flowers ready to open and set (although the production of beans will gradually reduce) so I should carry be able to on eating them this month
I am planning to grow a green manure (hungarian grazing rye) but I just can't get to doing it yet due to the runners and courgettes! Have anything eles been successful this year?
Butterflybrain and figrat you are not alone! Beans didn't do well at all and so many blackfly this year