by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!
If how to dehydrate beans is top of your dehydrating to-do list, this post tells you what you need to know about dehydrated green beans. I'll fill you in about fresh sliced green beans, or frozen, or precooked canned beans.
I cover how long and at what temperature to use for electric dehydrators and regular ovens to make satisfying dehydrated green bean snacks, plus a green bean casserole recipe from Epicurious to use them in.
So get ready to prepare those green beans and let’s unlock the process for delicious results, whether from fresh, frozen, or canned!
Dehydrated beans are fantastic in homemade soups... I love them year-round!
Nothing tastes better than home-grown green beans, though. For ease right now of getting some put away quickly, I use frozen green beans, straight from the bag—no prep necessary!
NOTE: Check out our dehydrated green beans recipe ideas at the foot of the content, thanks!
Can you dry canned green beans?
Yes, you can dry canned green beans - and frozen green beans too. Read further down the page to see how when using canned or FROZEN green beans, we can skip the blanching step because the manufacturers did that step for us! More deets too on dehydrating fresh green beans further down the page.
How long do dehydrated green beans last?
When stored properly, i.e. in a food vacuum-sealer bag with an oxygen absorber tucked in, they can last months - and years.
How to dry green beans for seeds?
Here are the steps to properly dry green bean pods for saving seeds:
Following these steps captures green bean seeds at peak maturity and low enough moisture for long-term viability. Enjoy your homegrown seed stock!
Is it possible to use home-canned beans?
Yes, just keep in mind that they're more likely to shatter if the beans are firm.
I'm learning how to dehydrate beans and they shattered - is that okay?
It's fine depending on how long they were dehydrated and the bean's skin thickness. If your dehydrated (and/or rehydrated) beans are going into soup, they'll be OK.
Can you damage your teeth while eating dried beans?
Admittedly, they are often hard to chew, and they can cause tooth
damage if you're not careful. It's important to soak the dried beans overnight
before cooking - and to cook them until they're soft.
If you have dental concerns, check with your dentist before eating dried beans.
Dehydrated green beans snack?
Dehydrated green beans snack?
A. Yes, and it's easy! See our How to Dehydrate Beans for Snacks here!
VITAMINS: Vitamin A, Choline, and Vitamin C, followed by Folate and Vitamin K. Green Beans rank high in these minerals: Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Fluoride, and Magnesium.
MINERALS: Trace minerals are Iron, Selenium, Zinc, Manganese, and Copper.
There are also Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids in green beans.
Don't forget to check out our Recipes page for an easy-to-make Vegetable Soup and just add chicken to make a tasty Chicken & Vegetable Soup!
Yes, for fresh beans follow our instructions here. The drying process takes between 6 to 8 hours at 125°F to 135°F in your dehydrator.
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
Canned beans require no cooking and rehydrate better. Simply drain and dehydrate at 125°F for six to eight hours.
The beans will split open when dried. This helps when you rehydrate them in a meal - so it's not a bad thing IMHO!
Oven drying is quicker than the dehydrating method, but it can be less consistent. To oven dry beans, preheat your oven to its lowest setting (dry at 125 °F if your oven lets you set it that low) and then spread the beans out on a baking sheet.
Place the baking sheet in the oven and leave the beans to dehydrate for 12-24 hours, depending on the size and type of bean.
Now you know why I prefer using an electric dehydrator - I can set the exact temperature and be sure it meets and maintains 125°F.
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
If using FRESH green beans:
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
Blanching helps the beans retain their lovely green color PLUS it helps crack their skins which, in turn, helps the beans to dehydrate more evenly. Otherwise, you risk getting 'case-hardening.'
This occurs when the outside dries too fast, leaving the insides damp. Avoid that at all costs. You don't want to be eating bad beans!
If using canned beans, simply drain and rinse. Place directly on your trays; no need for a solid or non-stick sheet.
If using FROZEN green beans:
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
If your frozen beans are clumping, let them sit in the kitchen sink, unopened, for about an hour. Or you can simply drop the unopened bag on the kitchen countertop a few times to break them apart.
Don't forget you can use canned green beans in a pinch!
Just drain them and dry them on the dehydrator. Check out the canned beans info. below.
Dried beans that have been prepared at home will not rehydrate as quickly as canned beans. When drying, canned beans split open, but uncooked dry beans rehydrate better.
The most significant reason to dehydrate cooked beans rather than using raw dry beans is the cooking time. This would save time and energy in an off-grid scenario.
Beans frequently break apart when they are dried, but they still taste delicious and offer high amounts of protein and other nutrients to backpacking meals.
Shown above are some fresh string beans and dehydrated string beans.
When dehydrating your own fresh beans, it is important to start with clean, dry beans. Rinse the beans thoroughly and then spread them out on a clean surface to air dry. Once they are dry, you can begin the process of dehydration.
If you're dehydrating beans for shorter-term storage and intend to consume them in a week or two, they may be kept on the counter or in your pantry in sealed containers or zip-top bags.
For mid-range storage (a month or two), simply allow them to cool after dehydrating (this is called conditioning) before sealing them inside an airtight container.
I like using Ziploc bags or Mason jars because they are reusable.
Mason jars are great for three reasons:
Shown below are green beans being vacuum sealed in vacuum sealer bags for long-term storage.
These vacuum-sealed packages will be placed inside mylar bags, and then in airtight bins, or feed-grade buckets.
After you've dehydrated your beans, it's time to store them. Whether for long- or short-term storage, you need to use a food vacuum sealer so you can remove the air. I personally love the Foodsaver brand.
A Foodsaver food vacuum-sealing machine draws the air out of the vacuum-sealer bags. Remember to add a 100cc oxygen absorber inside the vacuum-sealer bag, before drawing the air out!
Rehydrate your dehydrated beans with clean cold water. Granted, beans can remain a little tough, even after dehydrating them.
Soak the beans in clean cold water for at least four hours, or overnight.
They do make delicious snacks: see Farmgal Val's contribution a little farther down.
Beans, when dried, such as Great Northern Beans, Red Beans, and Lima Beans are an excellent source of protein and other nutrients, making them a great addition to any backpacking meal.
However, they can be tricky to cook, and they often crack up when dried, as mentioned above.
Despite these challenges, they are a delicious and nutritious option for backpacking meals.
Here's how to make a dehydrated green bean snack.
Prepare your beans by following the 'fresh beans' instructions mentioned further up the page. Lightly toss your beans in salt.
OVEN: Place the beans on cookie sheets that are lined with parchment paper and dry in a regular oven on the lowest heat possible... or use a dehydrator! This is another reason why I prefer to use a dehydrator... you know exactly what temperature to use, namely 125°F to 135°F for 6 to 8 hours.
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
DEHYDRATOR: Place your salted beans on dehydrator trays on top of solid sheets. This will keep the salt from falling down into the lower trays.
Your beans will feel nice and crispy when fully dehydrated. Don't over-dry them for snacking; and watch your teeth.
OK, when I lived in the UK originally, we didn't eat green bean
casserole. I've no idea if folks over there have caught on to this
delicious dish or not!
After listening to hours and hours of begging and pleading from my hubby to make green bean casserole, I finally gave in. Glad I did!
It's worth learning how to dehydrate beans so you can make this easy green bean casserole recipe from Epicurious ANY time of the year.
Remember to rehydrate your dehydrated beans before adding to the recipe.
NOTE: When using French's fried onions, they have a recipe for green bean casserole on their label.
Arlene had noticed that a few posters wanted to know how to make the green bean snacks—and some had already tried dehydrating beans to that end without success. So, here's what Arlene told me:
"I have not gotten to the end of the FAQ pages yet, so you may have already covered this. Several posts asked about the green bean snacks that you can buy in the store. I'm pretty sure these are freeze-dried, not dehydrated. That's why they maintain the shape and crispness."
Arlene, I'm so glad you told us this—and "keep warm up there!"
More tips on how to dehydrate beans:
Karen posted this:
"Bake them at 425° for 10-15 mins. Put seasoning on them before you start to bake them. The same as your dehydrator instructions: make sure you do not overlap the beans. I hope this helps."
Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!
Thanks, Karen!
And this just in from Farmgal Val:
"I read where to make the crispy kind of green bean snacks that are so popular, you have to coat them lightly with oil (coconut or olive) toss on your spices, and dehydrate them. Haven't tried it yet."
Thanks, Val!
I tried to cook black beans once. Never again. Took far too long. I even tried pressure cooking but was too concerned about 'froth' blocking up the pressure cooker valve... so I didn't try it!
Now I use canned black beans all the time and love them in this Black Bean Soup recipe.
Thanks for reading. Share this page with your buddies.
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I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
easy FOOD DEHYDRATING: Making food preservation simple since 2010. I show you how to keep your food pantry full, whatever the reason or season!
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ALL CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2010-2024 • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED REGARDLESS OF LINKS OR ATTRIBUTIONS.
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: I am an Affiliate for Amazon, and other sellers of merchandise. Should you purchase through their links, I may receive compensation. The price you pay does not increase. THANKS for your support! Read full disclaimer here.
POWERED BY SBI! (SOLO BUILD IT!)
