bluecar, having soaked the beans you put them into boiling water, just as you would do with freshly sliced beans.
How long do they last preserved? To be honest I don't know. Salt is a natural preservative (as with vinegar and sugar). The ones my dad did we ate at Christmas, and they were delicious. I honestly don't know, but you may well be able to keep them until the new crop, ie spread the season into the new year.
Opening the jar shouldn't affect the life of the preserved beans, so long as those remaining in the jar are kept below the salty liquid.
valmarg
