Recipe for "mature" beans

LindaN

LindaN

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My purple pole beans are really producing at this point and it's hard to keep up with the picking. Seems like the beans turn from "too small" to "too mature" in a day at this point!

So, I have a huge basket full of beans that I just couldn't leave on the vines, but are already showing signs of swelling. I know they will be less tender at this point, but I'm thinking there must be something that can be done with them.

If I pickle them will that make them more tender? Are there other ways to cook/preserve them where the less than baby tender texture will not be a problem?
 
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patandchickens

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I'd freeze/can them with the intent of using them in any recipe in which you boil the heck outta the beans -- brunswick stew, ham bone and green beans soup/stew, that sort of thing.

The biggest ones could be tossed to chickens to be converted into eggs ;)

Good luck,

Pat
 
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averytds

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I've never seen these. So they won't dry naturally if left on the vine? I thought all beans did that. Can you dry them?

I think the act of canning or freezing has a tendency to soften things anyway, so you may not notice or have any probs when you open them to use.

What's Brunswick stew?
 
LindaN

LindaN

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averytds, yes they would dry naturally on the vine if left, but these aren't shelling beans. Also, if I leave too many on the vines then it will stop producing beans completely, and it's much too early in the season to do that.

pat, for some reason my chickens aren't that interested in these beans. They eat pretty much anything else, but they just ignored the beans.

I'll try canning them and see what happens. This will be my first attempt to pressure can, so wish me luck!
 
nccountrygirl

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What's Brunswick stew?

It's a southern thing made like a stew but with chicken used as the meat. I don't care for it myself.
 
blurose

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What about running them through a "frencher" and just freezing them like normal? I betcha that's why "french sliced" beans were created, cause somebody left the beans on the vine a bit too long. :lol:
 
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patandchickens

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Frenching doesn't cure toughness all *that* much, unfortunately... tho you could try it.

Have you tried boiling them soft before offering them to the chickens? My chickens often eat things cooked that they have no interest in raw.

Have fun,

Pat
 
bills

bills

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LindaN said:
pat, for some reason my chickens aren't that interested in these beans. They eat pretty much anything else, but they just ignored the beans.
!
Click to expand...
I was always under the impression that beans were toxic to chickens?:/
 
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patandchickens

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bills said:
I was always under the impression that beans were toxic to chickens?:/
Click to expand...
Sorta.

Raw dried beans in significant amounts = toxic (or anyhow can be and thus are best avoided)

Cooked dried beans, or green (immature) beans either cooked or raw, are perfectly totally fine.


Pat
 
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