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Low in calories and high in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, green beans (also known as string beans) are a healthy and tasty way to meet your vegetable quota for the day. Fresh green beans can be purchased all year long in most places, and you can also buy them canned or frozen. Make green beans by steaming, sautèing. stewing or boiling them, or just using your microwave.
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 5:Boiling Fresh Green Beans
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1Bring a pot of water to a boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
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2Add salt to the water once it begins to boil.Advertisement
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3Trim the stems of the green beans and place them into the pot of gently boiling water.
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4Leave the green beans in the pot for 4 or 5 minutes, until they are cooked but still crisp.
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5Drain the green beans and cover them in ice water to stop the cooking process.
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6Serve with salt, pepper and any other seasonings or herbs and spices that you like. Green beans will be bright green and crunchy.Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:Steaming Fresh Green Beans
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:Sautee Green Beans
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1Heat olive oil in a sautee pan over medium heat.
- Add a little butter to the oil for extra flavor and if you do not mind the additional fat and calories.
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2Add green beans to the pan. You can use fresh, frozen or canned green beans when sautèing them, but you may find best results with fresh green beans.
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3Toss the beans in the oil as they cook.
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4Season beans with salt, pepper and anything else you like such as garlic or red pepper flakes.
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5Remove from heat after about 5 minutes and serve while hot.Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:Stewing Green Beans
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1Place fresh, frozen or canned green beans in a pot over low heat.
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2Add your favorite liquid to the pot. You can use water, wine, broth or something like stewed tomatoes to provide the necessary liquid and additional flavor to the beans.
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3Allow the beans to cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes. They will be soft and ready to serve right from the pot.Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:Making Green Beans in the Microwave
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1Start with frozen or canned green beans. Fresh green beans are better prepared using one of the other methods, and they will take longer to cook in the microwave.
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2Place the green beans in a microwave safe bowl. Follow the instructions on the package or the can.
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3Microwave on high for as long as the package recommends, usually between 2 and 5 minutes. You may need to let them sit in the microwave for 1 minute before serving.Advertisement
References
About This Article
To make green beans, start by bringing a pot of water to a boil, and adding salt. Then, trim the ends off the green beans, and add them to the boiling water. Cook the beans for 4 to 5 minutes, or until they're cooked but still crisp. Next, drain the beans, and cover them in ice water to stop the cooking process. Finally, remove the beans from the water and serve with salt and pepper. Alternatively, sauté the beans in olive oil, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes, then serve. For tips on how to steam or stew your green beans, read on!
