Topic: Drying butter beans

[Sparkly]

My spagna bianco have produced a brilliant crop. The problem is they are still looking healthy and in flower! I pulled all the beans off today because there was no sign of dying back and the frosts will be looming soon (up north!).

My question is could I dry these in the oven? The pods were still green....

140 degrees with the door slightly open?

[Digeroo]

My windowsills are covered in beans.  I would be worried they might get too hot in the oven. 

I also have some in cotton bags hanging by the radiators.

[saddad]

Mine are still flowering... but I have them in the big greenhouse...  ::)

[Sparkly]

My windowsills are covered in beans.  I would be worried they might get too hot in the oven. 

I also have some in cotton bags hanging by the radiators.

I have the bolotti's on a tray in the spare room, but these were from dried pods.

Am a just a bit concerned that they won't dry properly from fresh like this?

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

I don't think drying in the oven would work at all, and the big spagna beans would be the least likely to succeed, being so big. I bet you'd bake them on the outside at the same time as drying them, and they won't rehydrate.
The spagna beans I tried to dry at home last year all went mouldy very quickly. When I picked the rest, I separated them into *not quite ripe*, *ripe but not dried* and *ripe and dried*. The naturally dried ones were stored in jars, and were fine - actually the few that were left went mouldy the following June, and the others were  blanched and frozen separately, and they were fine too

This year i've done something different - all the beans were either ripe and dried or ripe but not dried - so I rehydrated the lot, and then blanched and froze........

[Sparkly]

Thanks RT.

How long did you boil them for before freezing?

[Digeroo]

I have dried beans from green, but feel it is important to leave them in the pods.  I do not even think of taking them out of the pods until they are well brittle.  I throw away or eat any from damaged/split pods.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

Thanks RT.

How long did you boil them for before freezing?

I was afraid you'd ask that! I blanched them in the microwave for 3 or 4 minutes, but that was only a guess. I've not frozen beans before, and was worried they'd end up as mush, bt it worked out very well. Actually when I wanted to use some this year, I went to the freezer first, rather than the bean jars.

And I *think* what i've done this year is better - because all the beans are in the same condition when I blanch them

[Chrispy]

I blanched them in the microwave for 3 or 4 minutes,

Never thought of doing that, that will save so much hastle in my small kitchen.
I had a quick google, this website has a table for microwave blanching, probably some others.

http://www.homefamily.net/index.php?/categories/foodnutrition/freezing_fruit_and_vegetables/

[cleo]

Spagna Bianco?

Is it a good one for butter beans?

I have been growing `White Emergo` for a while now but should I change??

[artichoke]

I am a believer for picking the pods when they go brown and brittle, and drying the beans in a flat container in the kitchen. They are beautifully large when you pick them, then shrink a little - and are stored in jars.

Succulent and delicious after that in casseroles.

[Sparkly]

I am a believer for picking the pods when they go brown and brittle, and drying the beans in a flat container in the kitchen. They are beautifully large when you pick them, then shrink a little - and are stored in jars.

Succulent and delicious after that in casseroles.

Yep me too, problem is they were still flowering and showing no signs of starting to dry off. I had the odd dry pod and have kept them. Have blanched and froze all the others.

Thanks for the help all.