[Capt Zero]

I've had a quick look about freezing beans, in the past we've blanched them then into the freezer. When the time comes to use them, they are cooked but they turn out like rubber.
A friend of ours says that all he does is wash the beans, slice, bag and into the freezer....will this work better??

[mumofstig]

I blanch mine - but it's the cooking you have to be careful with.
Putting frozen beans into cold water and bringing them back up to the boil, is all the cooking they need 

[Capt Zero]

Ok...can't remember if we dropped them into hot or cold, will give this a try.

[madcat]

I think that blanching is necessary if you are going to keep them more than a few weeks, but don't over do it.  I have a freezer book from the 80s where the blanching times are pretty much cooking times, which results in rubber beans.  I do about a minute blanching time and then when it comes to cooking, defrost and heat through in the steamer over the potatoes.  By the time the potatoes have cooked a frozen bag of beans has defrosted and heated through.

[Steveharford]

We tried freezing beans with and without blanching. Either way spoils a good bean in both texture and taste so now I salt them down in sweet jars like me ole Nan used to. Keep jar covered with black bin liner to keep light out. When wanted, take some out. Wash off salt ( can take about five goes) then cook as normal. Result: very near to a fresh picked bean as you can get.

[Auntiemogs]

I blanch mine for 2 minutes (I cut them into 1" lengths) and then steam them from frozen.  Taste good to me. 

[RJR_38]

I blanch mine - but it's the cooking you have to be careful with.
Putting frozen beans into cold water and bringing them back up to the boil, is all the cooking they need 

Completely agree! I don't blanch though - I did a taste test last year and we couldn't tell the difference. We like ours cooked 'al dente' though!

[barley]

I slice and freeze mine ( no blanching )

I then cook from frozen and found  adding  a quater tea spoon of bicarbonate of soda  keeps them green and not rubbery 

[Yorkie]

That's an interesting tip, Barley.  Will try to remember it.