Some of my green beans got too large and bumpy. Are they still edible? (2024)

FAQs

Some of my green beans got too large and bumpy. Are they still edible? ›

Answer: While pods that are large and bumpy are still edible, they are not nearly as tasty. Green beans (also called snap, string, or wax beans) are intended to be consumed as immature pods with small undeveloped seeds inside.

The best use for green beans that are over developed - where the beans inside are well form - is to shell them and cook as what are called shellies". Lots of recipes available.

Fresh green beans in good condition will feel firm and should snap apart when bent. Older green beans that feel limp and have started to develop a slimy texture are no longer safe to eat. If you see any fuzzy mold on them, they are definitely too bad to eat.

When are green beans overripe? It's pretty easy to tell when green beans have gone too far. You can see the outline of individual seeds bulging inside the pod. The pods themselves will be fibrous and difficult to chew.

“Brown spots and bean seed shapes that are coming out of the shell means that they are starting to get old,” says Amidor. That means use them ASAP or be prepared to toss them in a day or so. And if the beans are already slimy and wet, they're no longer safe to eat.

Re: Green beans - how big is too big

You can always make a green bean chutney. I find that by the time they have been cooking for a while, you can see and remove any stringy bits. Either that or make a lot of soup and freeze it.

Answer: While pods that are large and bumpy are still edible, they are not nearly as tasty. Green beans (also called snap, string, or wax beans) are intended to be consumed as immature pods with small undeveloped seeds inside.

If your beans have a few brown spots, they are OK to consume. Just cut off the brown areas before cooking and eating. Just know that these slightly past-their-prime beans may not have the flavor, texture, or nutritional benefits of perfectly fresh beans.

Per Eat By Date, older green beans that are in the process of spoiling appear “limp and dry” with a “tough and rubbery” texture, with less likelihood to snap — as a fresh green bean should — when bent in half. If the pod feel wet or slimy, it means they're starting to “decompose”, and need to be thrown away.

Acute poisoning symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.

How do you eat large green beans? ›

Steamed green beans are versatile. They can be their own side dish by simply tossing them in butter or oil, chopped fresh herbs, or chopped and toasted nuts. Salt and pepper enhance their flavor, as does a squeeze of lemon juice.

One reason beans are fibrous, tough, and stringy may simply be that they are picked past their prime. Pod diameter, NOT length is the best indicator for harvesting beans, and freshness can be confirmed by an audible snap when the bean is broken.

Snap beans (aka green beans, string beans, etc.) are immature beans with edible pods that are tender and flavorful. Not to be confused with shelling beans which are grown for the beans inside the pods.

If they came in a bag, keep them in the bag when storing. If they came in a small berry box from the market, transfer them to a reusable storage or plastic bag before storing them in the fridge. Stored properly, the beans should keep for up to one week. If the beans turn very brown or feel slimy, they've gone bad.

Smooth: good. Wrinkled: bad.

Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours of eating the raw or undercooked beans. Only a few beans are needed to cause poisoning.

If you're hoping for the tastiest fresh beans, it's best to harvest them when they're still tender, before the seeds inside swell against the pod. If you wait too long—even just a day or two late sometimes—your beans can taste woody or bitter and develop too many tough strings.

Do you need to trim green beans? No matter what color or variety of green or wax bean you end up with, you will need to give them a little trim before eating them. Do this just before you will be using them, as the trimmed ends will quickly dry out and shrivel up.

If your beans have a few brown spots, they are OK to consume. Just cut off the brown areas before cooking and eating. Just know that these slightly past-their-prime beans may not have the flavor, texture, or nutritional benefits of perfectly fresh beans.

Leave Them to Mature, Shell and Dry the Beans

One other somewhat easier option to consider involves allowing runner beans to mature on the plant. Rather than eating the pods of the runner beans, you can let them mature and dry the beans inside for later.