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?
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.
Mine are still flowering... but I have them in the big greenhouse... ::)
Quote from: Digeroo on October 10, 2009, 20:13:18
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?
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........
Thanks RT.
How long did you boil them for before freezing?
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.
Quote from: Sparkly on October 10, 2009, 20:54:02
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
Quote from: Rhubarb Thrasher on October 10, 2009, 21:26:10
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/ (http://www.homefamily.net/index.php?/categories/foodnutrition/freezing_fruit_and_vegetables/)
Spagna Bianco?
Is it a good one for butter beans?
I have been growing `White Emergo` for a while now but should I change??
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.
Quote from: artichoke on October 11, 2009, 20:43:18
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.