How to Freeze Green Beans (Step-by-Step)

Freezing green beans when they are in season is a great way to preserve their freshness and extend their shelf life so you can have them all year round. Thankfully, it is a very simple process to freeze them and doesn’t require any special equipment—only your time.

In this guide, we’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how to freeze green beans properly. But, first, let’s briefly discuss why you should consider freezing them.

Why freeze green beans?

• Longer shelf life. When you freeze beans, you can ensure you have a supply of them on hand throughout the year. It also means you don’t have to throw them out once they start to perish.
• Retains their nutrients. Freezing green beans allows them to retain their nutrients and keeps them fresh for when you want to cook them.
• Save money. If you purchase or harvest green beans when they are in season and then freeze the ones you don’t eat, you will save money by not having to purchase them when they are out of season.
• Always have them on hand. Freezing green beans means you always have a stash of them on hand for when you want to cook them. Since they are prepped and blanched before freezing, they are very easy to cook once defrosted.
• Reduce waste. Freezing green beans helps prevent food waste. Green beans don’t have a very long shelf life in the refrigerator, so freezing them will ensure you don’t have to throw them out before being able to eat them.

Steps to freeze green beans

To get the best results when freezing green beans, we recommend you follow these simple steps.

1. Choose the beans. When choosing which green beans to freeze, always select the freshest ones you have that don’t have any blemishes. You also don’t want to freeze beans that have started to spoil.
2. Wash the beans. Once you have selected which beans to freeze, wash them under running water to remove any dirt and other debris from them.
3. Prepare the beans. Trim the stem ends of the beans and remove any stringy bits. The easiest way to trim them is to use a small knife.
4.  Blanch the beans. The next step is to blanch the beans. This helps to preserve their appearance and keeps the nutrients in them. To blanch the beans, fill up a large pot with water (about three-quarters full) and put it on the stove on high heat. 

While the water is coming to a boil, fill up a bowl with iced water. Once the water is boiling, place the beans in the water for two to three minutes.

5. Put the beans in ice. Once the beans have cooked for two to three minutes, remove them from the pot and place them into your bowl of icy water. This will help cool them down quickly so they stop cooking. 

Once the beans are completely cool, drain the container of water and remove the beans.

6. Dry the beans. Pat the beans dry on a dry paper towel. You want to get them as dry as possible.
7. Place beans in freezer bags. Once the beans are dry, place them into freezer-safe bags. If you don’t have bags, you can use air-tight containers. 

Remove all air from the bags or containers and then seal them tight. Once sealed, label the bags or containers so you can easily track what’s in the bag and what date they were placed in the freezer.

8. Place bags in the freezer. Once the green beans have been packaged up, place them in the freezer. It’s a good idea to keep them in the coolest part of the freezer. 

Green beans can be kept in the freezer safely for between nine and 12 months. However, for best results try to eat them within six months.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to blanch green beans before freezing them?

Yes. Blanching green beans before freezing them ensures their color is preserved as well as their texture and flavor. This means when you defrost them they will taste fresh and look fantastic.

When should I freeze green beans?

The best time to freeze green beans is when they are fresh. Don’t freeze green beans after they have sat in the refrigerator for a long time and have started to spoil. 

When selecting beans to freeze, pick ones that don’t have any blemishes or signs they have started to spoil.

How long do green beans last in the freezer?

Green beans can last for between nine and 12 months in the freezer. However, for best results, we recommend you defrost and eat them within six months. 

To ensure they don’t spoil in the freezer, make sure you store them in airtight containers or freezer-safe zip-lock bags.

How do you thaw frozen green beans?

The best way to thaw frozen green beans is to take them out of the freezer for at least a few hours before you want to cook them. If possible, take them out the night before and let them thaw in the fridge overnight. 

However, if you need to, you can cook them frozen straight out of the freezer. Just remember to never refreeze your green beans once they have thawed.