Canning Recipes For Green Beans

John Blinks

8 min read

·

Jul 31, 2024

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Canning Recipes for Green Beans: A Guide to Preserving Summer's Bounty

Green beans are a delicious and versatile vegetable, and canning them is a great way to preserve their freshness and flavor for months to come. This article will guide you through the process of canning green beans, providing you with two delicious and reliable recipes.

Why Can Green Beans?

• Preserves Freshness: Canning allows you to enjoy the taste of summer's green beans even during the colder months.
• Cost-Effective: Canning your own green beans is much more economical than buying them pre-canned at the store.
• Control Over Ingredients: You can choose the quality and freshness of your ingredients, ensuring your canned green beans are free from additives and preservatives.

Essential Equipment for Canning Green Beans

• Canner: A large pot specifically designed for canning, capable of holding jars submerged in water.
• Jars: Wide-mouth canning jars (pint or quart size) with lids and rings.
• Jar Lifter: A tool to safely lift hot jars from the canner.
• Jar Funnel: Makes filling jars easier without spills.
• Magnetic Lid Lifter: Retrieves lids from the boiling water bath without burning your fingers.
• Measuring Cups & Spoons: Accurate measurements are key for successful canning.
• Ladle: For transferring hot liquids into jars.
• Rubber Spatula: For cleaning jar rims and removing air bubbles.

Preparation Before Canning

1. Clean & Wash: Wash green beans thoroughly under running water.
2. Trim & Snap: Trim off ends and snap beans into desired lengths.
3. Blanch: Submerge green beans in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then immediately transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Blanching helps retain color and texture.

Canning Recipes:

Recipe 1: Simple Green Beans

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and blanched
• 1 teaspoon salt (per pint jar)
• Water

Instructions:

1. Prepare Jars: Sterilize jars and lids in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
2. Pack Jars: Pack blanched green beans into sterilized jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
3. Add Salt: Add 1 teaspoon of salt to each pint jar.
4. Pour Water: Fill jars with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace.
5. Remove Air Bubbles: Run a rubber spatula around the inside of each jar to remove air bubbles.
6. Wipe Rims: Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp cloth.
7. Seal: Place lids on jars and screw on rings until fingertip tight.
8. Process: Place jars in the canner, ensuring they are submerged in water by at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Process pint jars for 25 minutes and quart jars for 30 minutes.
9. Cool: Turn off heat and carefully remove jars from the canner. Let cool completely, at least 12 hours.

Recipe 2: Green Beans with Garlic and Lemon

Ingredients:

• 4 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed and blanched
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt (per pint jar)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (per pint jar)
• Water

Instructions:

1. Prepare Jars: Sterilize jars and lids in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.
2. Pack Jars: Pack blanched green beans into sterilized jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
3. Add Garlic & Lemon: Add 1 clove of minced garlic and 1 lemon slice to each pint jar.
4. Add Salt & Pepper: Add 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper to each pint jar.
5. Pour Water: Fill jars with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace.
6. Remove Air Bubbles: Run a rubber spatula around the inside of each jar to remove air bubbles.
7. Wipe Rims: Wipe jar rims with a clean, damp cloth.
8. Seal: Place lids on jars and screw on rings until fingertip tight.
9. Process: Place jars in the canner, ensuring they are submerged in water by at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil. Process pint jars for 25 minutes and quart jars for 30 minutes.
10. Cool: Turn off heat and carefully remove jars from the canner. Let cool completely, at least 12 hours.

Storage & Enjoyment:

• Store canned green beans in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.
• Enjoy your canned green beans in salads, soups, stews, or as a side dish.

Safety Tips:

• Follow all instructions carefully and use a trusted canning recipe.
• Ensure jars are properly sterilized and sealed.
• Never use jars with cracks or chips.
• Process jars for the recommended time to ensure proper preservation.
• Do not reuse lids.
• If any jar shows signs of spoilage (bulging lid, leaking, discoloration), discard it.

Enjoy the deliciousness of home-canned green beans all year round!