runner bean processing

[Birdie Wife]

I've been growing runner beans for the first time this year and I'm so chuffed to have a surplus. I'm planning to freeze what I can't eat straight away. Questions -

1. Do you have a favourite gadget for slicing runner beans?
2. Do you need to blanch before freezing or is it fine to freeze straight from fresh picked?

[Bren In Pots]

Birdie Wife I top and tail my beans then run the potato peeler along either side after that I cut the beans into diamonds.

Here's an older thread about blanching or not before freezing runner beans for you to have a read at.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ans_75021.html

[Scarlet]

I use a "Krisk bean stringer and slicer" fab gadget (and I hate gadgets ) but it slices and takes off the string in one push. You can slice much faster and thinner with one of these than you can with a knife. It's about a fiver from @m@zon.

I'm not keen on frozen beans, though the OH will eat them. I slice and freeze without blanching.

[Martin H]

I use a potato peeler to take the strings off, then cut into diamonds with kitchen scissors.
Then I open-freeze them spread out on baking trays, then into freezer bags.

[ESBkevin]

I've been top and tailing them, then spud peeler down the sides. Then some I cut to 2" length and push through a simple bean slicer until I get fed up, the rest get chopped into diamonds 3 at a time on a cutting board before they get frozen.
I have succumed to the lure of a Krisk bean slicer, lets hope it arrives while the glut of runner beans continues in full flight.

[veggiechicken]

I grow flat French beans like Hunter as they don't need stringing - then cut them into diamonds with scissors.
I do have one of the bean slicer thingies and its great for fine strings of beans. Even has a little razor blad to top and tail the beans before you shove them through the slicing bit. the beans need to be crisp (not limp) and not too chunky or they get wedged.

[Small pumpkin]

I've always fancied one of these

Kitchen Craft New Rotary Manual Table Top Runner Green Bean Slicer and Suction | eBay

Never got round to actually buying one.
I blanch before freezing then cook from frozen.

[Birdie Wife]

I do like my beans sliced quite fine - I think I'll go for one of those Krisk thingies. Thanks for all your top tips and suggestions, most helpful

[Alison]

Unfortunately runner beans are nowhere near as nice after freezing as they are fresh. Frenchies freeze much better

[ESBkevin]

Just an update. The Krisk bean slicer arrived (thank you 'long river' company) and I've done in excess of a bucketfull of runner beans with it.

So all I have to say is BRILLIANT. The time saving is enourmous and the ease of use means I dont dread another huge haul twice a week. Top and tail bit is good but in the search for more speed i might try doing all of the ends with a knife (bunch them up and chop 6-8 at a time). None the less my new favouritist kitchen gadget of the season.

[burnie]

I'm a French bean fan too, have grown runner beans for 20 years now.