[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

Hi guys,

If you shell dried beans and they are not quite hard yet from inside the pod.

Can you just leave them on the side to go hard, or will they go mouldy ?

[rowan57]

Leave them on a plate or something on the side for a few weeks, in fact I left mine on a plate on the side for most of the winter last year. They are now tucked up safely in Kilner jars.

[GrannieAnnie]

Make sure they are not touching though.  Last year I left my borlotti beans for weeks on trays before putting them in kilner jars.

Some started to go mouldy, so I sorted out all the good ones, then cooked and froze them in little packs.  So I just pop a pack in the stew or curry!

[rowan57]

Hi Grannie,

I don't think there should be too much of an issue with them touching, I had mine an inch deep in a baking tray for a long time while they were drying. Key thing is just to shuffle them around frequently, I do this everyday as I walk past, just run my hands through them.

[snowdrops]

Make sure they are not touching though.  Last year I left my borlotti beans for weeks on trays before putting them in kilner jars.

Some started to go mouldy, so I sorted out all the good ones, then cooked and froze them in little packs.  So I just pop a pack in the stew or curry!

Just a thought, could you not freeze them fresh when podded to miss out the drying & boiling? Would save quite a bit of time etc. I tend to forget to do the soak overnight & then don't get to use them.

[barley]

I froze about 6 bags full

they can be cooked straight from frozen

[mumofstig]

Drying is useful when there's no room left in the freezer - it's usually full with French & runner beans, peas and pasta sauce by the time the shelling beans are ready