[Kate and her Ducks]

My runner beans (Painted Lady) have been sadly neglected recently and they now have lots of dried pods on them containing dried beans.  I will save some for seed next year but there are loads and was wondering if I can use them like kidney beans or are they largely inedible by this stage?

[Jodie A]

Yes you can, I've used fresh, ie too large to eat as sliced runners, but not dry enough to store in a jar or store as seed for next year, in place of kidney beans.

Unsure if you can soak and use the dried out seeds - I'm sure someone else will be along soon to say if they've tried it.

[Yorkie]

It seems fine

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=46200.0

[Kate and her Ducks]

Cool, thanks.

Didn't think to search drying beans which would have made sense! Searched runner beans and didn't find what I was looking for!

[Chappers]

I chuck a handfull in the slow cooker when doing a stew, they are yummy

Paul

[Trillium]

I recall John mentioning that he pops the actual beans out of the pods and either uses them fresh or freezes them to add to stews and such. The bean itself is nice but the pod is too stringy by then.

[Kate and her Ducks]

I've shelled the beans from their dried out pods and they are now in a jar. They are very pretty, cream with brown markings. Odd as I don't remember them looking like that when I planted them but maybe that is my memory!

Looking forward to trying them in something. I feel a big winter stew coming on!

[poultrygeist]

I'll be round with a bowl and spoon (and a wedge of bread to dunk) 

Rob

[Salmo]

If you put them in a jar be sure they are absolutly dry or they will go mouldy. To be safe it is better to freeze them.

[marky_h]

I soak the beans overnight then boil them for an hour or so.    Some turn out slightly firm but that doesn't bother me.

Mark

[Pennie Meffan]

I am so pleased someone has asked this question as my husband has just come back from the allottment with loads of runner bean seeds and have just googled this very subject !!

I have now become a member of this site which looks just up our street !

Has anyone tried to substitute runner bean seeds instead of say kidney beans in a chilli ?

I have just read a previous reply in 2008 who said the reason the runner bean seeds were not sold in shops is because they are horrid !!

It would be interesting if anyone out there has a recipe they can recommend. thanks. 

[Aunt Sally]

Try it and see !

I eat them raw while picking my beans in July time.  They are fairly low down on the toxin level that all beans contain.  Red Kidney beans being the worst.  Just make sure they are boiled well to kill any toxin they do contain. 

Where do we send the flowers 

[gillie]

If you live in a hard water area soak and cook dried beans in a low calcium mineral water such as Volvic.  They will cook very much quicker.

Apparently the terms 'hard' and 'soft' for water comes from the ease or otherwise of cooking beans.

Cheers,

Gillie

[Aunt Sally]

I never knew that - We live and learn 

[hillbilly]

What a great question!
You lot are a gold mine of info. My last crop of runners is bound for 'podding and potting' as I've left them too long for slicing.
PS not sure if the beans above are in the jar for eating or planting next year but do make sure they're in the dark and cool ( )as well as dry.