How Long to Boil Green Beans

Name: How Long to Boil Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 lb. green beans (fresh); 1 tsp. salt (plus more for serving); 1-2 Tbsp. butter (optional)

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Once you know How to Boil Green Beans perfectly you’ll never buy canned again! Fresh green beans are boiled on the stovetop in salted water until they are bright green, tender, yet still crisp. Quickly prepare this healthy side dish for dinner, or freeze to have on hand for easy recipes all year-round.

Green beans are served with butter for a healthy side dish.

Whether you want a quick side dish, or need some fresh green beans to add to a recipe… this is the quickest and easiest way to boil green beans!

They come out perfectly crisp and tender and not overly mushy or bland.

In less than 10 minutes they’ll be ready to enjoy.

All you need to do is simply trim, boil, and serve!

How to Boil Green Beans

The basic steps for boiling green beans are simple to follow:

Snap or Trim the Green Beans

You can gather a few green beans at a time and cut off the ends with a knife. Or, snap them off individually with your hands. Remove about ¼-½ inch from the end. It is only necessary to trim off the stem end, but you can also take off the tail end if preferred.

A green bean is cut with a knife on a cutting board. — Trim green beans one at a time with a knife.

Multiple green beans are prepared to be boiled. — Trim green beans one at a time with a knife.

How Long to Boil Green Beans

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Make sure it’s large enough to comfortably fit the green beans.

Carefully add the beans to the water using a slotted spoon and boil for about 4-5 minutes, or until tender yet still crisp. They’ll also start to turn a beautiful bright green color. Be sure to start checking on them after 3 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.

Green beans are placed into a pot of water. — Add green beans to a pot of boiling water.

A slotted spoon is used to remove the beans. — Add green beans to a pot of boiling water.

Drain and Dry

Pour the water and green beans into a colander in the sink so that it can drain. You can also pat the beans dry to ensure all of the extra water is removed before serving.

Learn How to Blanch Green Beans with ice water and a large bowl to stop the cooking process!

Boiled beans are drained using a colander.

Meal Prep and Storage

To Serve: Top the warm green beans with a pat of butter and salt. One pound of green beans will result in 4 servings.
To Prep-Ahead: Wash and trim the ends of the green beans and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days in advance.
To Store: Seal leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Arrange the cooked green beans in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 4 hours. Then transfer them to freezer-safe ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Warm in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat, or simply microwave until hot.

FAQs

How long do you boil fresh green beans out of the garden?

Fresh green beans should be boiled for approximately 4-5 minutes, or until they are bright green and crisp tender.

Is boiling green beans healthy?

Yes it is! By boiling green beans you do not need to add any oil which keeps them as healthy as possible.

Should I soak green beans before cooking?

No, it is not necessary to soak green beans before cooking. It only takes a few minutes for them to cook.

What do you serve with boiled green beans?

After boiling green beans, you can top them with olive oil, parmesan cheese, and garlic, or add flavor with lemon juice or red pepper flakes.

Expert Tips and Tricks

Cut a few. Line up the ends and trim 4-5 green beans at a time.
Boil before adding. This ensures you know exactly how hot the water is and exactly how long to boil the green beans.
Look for green. When they are done cooking, the veggies will turn a vibrant green color.
Meal prep. Make up a big batch and freeze to have on hand for the future.
Keep a close eye. Watch carefully once they have boiled for 3 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.

How to Use Boiled Green Beans

Put these boiled green beans to use in some easy recipes:

Green Bean Casserole
Green Beans Almondine
Sauteed Green Beans
To dip in hummus or ranch dressing.
Niçoise Salad

Blanched green beans are served for a healthy side dish.

5 from 4 votes

How Long to Boil Green Beans

Once you know How to Boil Green Beans perfectly you'll never buy canned again! Fresh green beans are boiled on the stovetop in salted water until they are bright green, tender, yet still crisp.

Print Comment

Course Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword how to, side dish, vegetable

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 5 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 62 kcal

London Brazil

Ingredients

1 lb. green beans fresh
1 tsp. salt plus more for serving
1-2 Tbsp. butter optional

Instructions

Snap off the stems of the green beans by hand or cut and remove the ends with a knife.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil along with the salt. Carefully add the green beans to the water using a slotted spoon and boil for about 4-5 minutes, or until crisp tender. Begin checking on them after 3 minutes to ensure they do not overcook.
Drain the green beans in a colander in the sink. Serve with butter and additional salt, to taste. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Meal Prep and Storage

To Serve: Top the warm green beans with a pat of butter and salt. One pound of green beans will result in 4 servings.
To Prep-Ahead: Wash and trim the ends off of the green beans and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days in advance.
To Store: Seal leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3-5 days.
To Freeze: Arrange the cooked green beans in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 4 hours. Then transfer them to freezer-safe ziplock bag for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Warm in a pan on the stovetop over medium heat, or simply microwave until hot.