The harvest is abundant and the high yield of bush beans cannot be used in one go. Freezing and preserving are tried and tested. But did you know that you can also dry the beans?
How should bush beans be dried?
Bush beans can either be hung on a thread in theairor spread out flat in adehydratororovendried at a maximum of 60 °C. Before drying, it is advisable to de-stem the beans and blanch them for a few minutes.
Why is drying bush beans recommended?
Drying the bush beans serves topreservationthe legumes. Itsaves spacebecause, unlike freezing, it removes water from the bush beans. It is alsoless time-consuming than boiling the French beans.
When should bush beans be harvested for drying?
Harvest the bush beans for drying when they arebig enoughbut theirseedsare still outsidedo not sign. This is usually the case 8 to 12 weeks after sowing.
What should be done before drying the French beans?
Before you send the bush beans to the drying process, it is advisable toclean themand cut off thestem endsOptionally, you can blanch the French beans for three to five minutes. Blanching preserves the color better. Without blanching, the dried beans look browner.
How do you dry French beans?
Bush beans can be dried in adehydratororoven. Make sure that the beans do not overlap and that the temperature is not higher than 60 °C. You also have the option of air drying the bush beans. This is how it works:
- Using a needle and thread, thread the beans.
- Leave about 5 cm of space in between.
- Hang the beans on a thread in a shady, warm and airy place.
How long does it take for the French beans to dry?
Dehydrating in a dehydrator or oven takes between10and14 hours, depending on the temperature set and the type of beans. If the bush beans are air-dried, it takes approximately5 days (depending on humidity, sunlight, type of bean, among other things) until the beans are dried. To check that they are completely dry, carry out the breaking test: if the hard pods can be easily broken, they are dry.
How should dried French beans be stored?
You can store the dried bush beans inlockable containerssuch as jars and cans or in bags. It is important that they are storeddry,coolanddark. They can be kept for a good six months without any loss of quality.
How do I use the dried French beans?
You can use dried bush beanslike fresh bush beans, for example forcookingandroasting. However, before using them, it is recommended to soak them in water for three to four hours.
Tip
Do not eat dried beans uncooked
Under no circumstances eat the dried beans uncooked! Even if you have blanched them briefly, they still contain the poisonous phasin. This will only break down after a cooking time of at least ten minutes.
