blancing runner beans

[Philbasford]

My runner beans are running rampant, so ive got loads!.going to freeze them , but ive told i should blanche them.  The question is how long do i blanche them for ?

[Philbasford]

[katynewbie]

My book says 2 minutes

[tim]

Much has been written on this earlier.

You do not have to blanch, but it 'slows down the deterioration process'.

Yet many things can keep a year - if you so wish (!!) without noticeable loss.

Timing - important to chill in ice-cold water for as long as you blanch. And open freeze.

I always find steaming easier & quicker overall than boiling. Longer to steam, but no delay returning to the boil.

[greyhound]

I don't blanch them, I have tried it, but I think they taste much better without.   Don't keep 'em too long, though.

[beejay]

Last year for the first time I didn't blanch all my beans. I found the unblanched ones took ages to cook afterwards - didn't like them atall. Will be blanching this year unless someone can tell me why they were like that.

[saddad]

We used to blanch but haven't bothered for years now... haven't got a glut yet!
;D

[grotbag]

all i do is boil a pan of water put beans in ,wait till water boils again take of run under cold water for a while put em in a bag and freeze.Reckon i must of picked 60lb so far.

[Toadspawn]

I haven't blanched anything for years.
In fact I personally think it is a waste of time freezing kidney(runner) beans. They lose their colour and they taste foul. French and Borlotti beans are however OK.
Better to give them away and let friends and neighbours enjoy then fresh.
Years ago people used to salt kidney beans, but I have not tried it.

[powerspade]

I wish I had Kidney Beans to blanch out of a 20ft double row I have had only 5 up to now. Its my worst year ever. 

[tim]

Salting, Toadspawn? Yes, & we used to preserve eggs in varnish or waterglass!

[caroline7758]

Does anyone know where I can buy a not-too-expensive blanching basket?

[katynewbie]

 ???

What's a blanching basket? I use stainless steel seive! Always was a pleb!

;D

[tim]

I use my steamer thingie.

I nearly always steam, anyway. Much nicer results, I think.

[Meg]

Life to short innit! They seem to keep ok unblanched but.........will have to say fresh is best. Make friends happy and give them away!!! Enjoy the seasonal food instead.

[telboy]

I used to salt down runner beans. The beans colour & firmness remain. O.K. one has to soak a couple of times to rid the salt, but it's like eating fresh when steamed.
As powerspade, my crop this year is very poor. The village is hosting a water diviner on the 18th.. I'm dragging him up to the plots to find a spring. Our village is built on them, but they never appear on the allotments!