When are green beans in season?
You can start to find them at farmers markets usually sometime in June and until September. See what else is in season at the same time: June, July, August, and September.
As long as they are properly stored, they ship fairly well, so you can find them imported to grocery stores during other times of the year.
How do I pick and store fresh green beans?
They should feel firm enough that they would snap easily in half. Look for ones that don’t have soft spots or brown spots.
Store them in a perforated plastic bag or open container in the fridge, ideally the crisper drawer which controls humidity levels. They should last up to a week in the fridge.
Should I buy organic?
Yes! Green beans have some of the highest concentrations and toxicity of pesticides. Consumer Reports’ analysis of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pesticide testing data puts them in the highest health risk category. That means just 1 serving exceeds the known-to-be-safe limits of pesticide ingestion.
If you’re interested more about this topic, I researched the organic vs conventional pesticides issue as unbiased as possible. I prefer organic, but to put it in perspective, alcohol is also toxic and I still enjoy wine.
Now what should I make?
That’s a good question! I scour the internet to find recipes that use fresh, seasonal ingredients, often with a fun twist. Follow Ask The Food Geek on Pinterest or Facebook to get access to the recipes I find every day.
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Green beans recipes
Each recipe has been reviewed to make sure all ingredients are in season at the same times as green beans, or that the ingredients are in-season all year.
Green bean fries with a trio of dipping sauces – recipe by Platings and Pairings
Heirloom tomato salad with green beans and chevre – recipe by Healthy Seasonal Recipes
Green bean and egg salad with garlic parmesan vinaigrette – recipe by Diethood
Garlic parmesan green beans – recipe by Foodie with Family
Southwest brussels and beans – recipe by A Spicy Perspective
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