How To Freeze Garden Green Beans

Even though green beans are technically a summer vegetable, they're a staple on many a holiday table. (Green bean casserole is the ultimate Thanksgiving side dish, right?!) Sure, you can get green beans year-round, but you'll find them at your local farmer's market (or even in your own garden if you're lucky) from May through October.

Ree Drummond loves green beans in all sorts of dishes: Try her classic three bean salad for a simple side dish, her peanut chicken with green beans or skirt steak with blistered green beans for an easy weeknight meal, or impress your whole family during the holidays and whip up a green bean casserole with candied bacon.

If you have an abundant crop in your garden this year, or you want to buy some in bulk to get ready for the holidays, you may be wondering: Can you freeze green beans? The good news is that you can—read on to find out the best way to freeze green beans for all your favorite recipes!

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How do you freeze fresh green beans?

You can freeze green beans in just a few easy steps. First, wash the green beans thoroughly and trim the ends. Then, blanch the green beans by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Drop the fresh green beans in the water and cook until just tender but still crisp, about 3 minutes. Drain the green beans and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

Once the beans have cooled, about 5 minutes, drain them thoroughly and pat them completely dry (this is important so they don't get ice crystals in the freezer!). Then, lay them out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet, making sure to separate each bean so they stick together, and freeze for 1 hour. Then, slide the green beans off the parchment and place in resealable plastic freezer bags, making sure to squeeze out as much air out as possible before sealing. The beans will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

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Can you freeze green beans without blanching them first?

You can follow the steps above and just skip the blanching part—the green beans will freeze just fine for about 1 month. Just know that blanched green beans tend to have a better texture when thawed, so it might be worth the extra step of blanching (frozen raw green beans can get a bit mushy when thawed). Another argument for blanching: It extends the shelf life to about 6 months. Also keep in mind that if you freeze raw green beans, you should still cook them after thawing—their texture changes, so you wouldn't want to serve them raw on a crudités plate. Use your thawed frozen green beans for casseroles, stir-fries, and more.

Can you freeze green beans after they are cooked?

Yes! Blanching green beans lightly cooks them without breaking them down too much. If you want to freeze a fully cooked green bean dish, like a green bean casserole, you can totally still do it—just keep in mind that the green beans will have a softer, more watery texture when you thaw and reheat. Freeze cooked green bean dishes in resealable freezer bags (remove as much air as possible) or in another airtight container.

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