Steaming Beans: How Long Before They're Ready?

Steaming is a simple and healthy way to cook green beans, preserving their vibrant colour, flavour, and nutritional value. The cooking time depends on the desired texture, but steamed green beans are typically cooked for 3-7 minutes. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to steam green beans to perfection, as well as some tips and tricks for seasoning and serving them.

How to steam green beans without a steamer basket

Steaming green beans is a great way to cook them, as it maintains their vibrant colour and keeps their nutritional value. There are several ways to steam green beans without a steamer basket. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Method 1: The Double Boiler Method

For this method, you will need a saucepan and a heatproof bowl that fits snugly on top. This creates a makeshift steamer using the double boiler technique.

• Fill the saucepan with water, ensuring it doesn't touch the bottom of the bowl when placed on top.
• Place the green beans in the heatproof bowl and set it on top of the saucepan.
• Cover the bowl with a lid or aluminium foil to trap the steam.
• Bring the water to a boil and let the steam cook the green beans for about 5-7 minutes, or until they reach your desired level of tenderness.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan using oven mitts or a towel, as it will be hot.

Method 2: The Microwave Method

The microwave is a quick and convenient way to steam green beans.

• Place the green beans in a microwave-safe dish with a small amount of water (about 2 tablespoons).
• Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap, ensuring there is a small vent for steam to escape.
• Microwave on high power for 3-5 minutes, depending on your microwave's wattage and your desired tenderness.
• Remove the dish from the microwave with oven mitts or a towel, and let the steam escape before serving.

Method 3: The Stove-Top Pan Method

This method uses a stove-top pan and a small amount of water to steam the beans.

• Bring about 1/2 inch of salted water to a boil in a large frying pan or sauté pan.
• Add trimmed and cleaned green beans, cover, and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.

Method 4: The Stir-Fry Method

The stir-fry method will give the beans a slightly different texture.

• Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
• Add the green beans and sauté for a minute or two, until they start to soften.
• Add a splash of water, cover the skillet, and reduce the heat to medium-low.
• Let the beans steam for about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• Remove from heat and season as desired.

Tips for Steaming Green Beans:

• Don't overcook the beans. Aim for a vibrant green colour and a tender, but crisp texture.
• You can use a colander, metal sieve, or heatproof plate inside a pot with a lid to steam the beans.
• Season with butter, salt, and pepper, or try lemon zest, sesame oil, or other spices.
• Frozen green beans may need a different cooking time, so check the package instructions.

Happy cooking!

How to season steamed green beans

Steaming is a great way to cook green beans, and the good news is that it doesn't take long to do. But how do you make steamed green beans tasty? Here are some tips on how to season them to perfection.

Firstly, you'll want to trim the ends of your beans. You can either snap them off one by one or line them up on a chopping board and cut off a few at a time. You can also cut the beans in half, or leave them whole. Then, set up your steamer basket in a saucepan with 1-2 inches of water and place the beans inside. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to a medium heat, cover, and steam for 5-7 minutes, depending on how tender you like them.

Now for the seasoning. There are lots of ways to season steamed green beans, and you can get creative with different flavours. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Classic: Toss with melted butter, salt, and pepper.
• Lemon and parmesan: Drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil, then top with grated parmesan cheese.
• Asian-inspired: Drizzle with sesame oil and soy sauce, then sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
• Garlic and herb: Toss with minced garlic, chopped fresh herbs (like dill, parsley, or basil), and olive oil.
• Minced garlic and butter: Toss the beans in butter, then add some minced garlic to the pan and cook for a further minute.
• Lemon zest and juice: Sprinkle with lemon zest and add a squeeze of lemon juice.
• Sesame oil and sesame seeds: Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Slivered toasted almonds: Sprinkle with some toasted almond slivers for a crunchy texture.
• Green onion: Slice some green onions and sprinkle on top for a bit of colour and a mild onion flavour.
• Butter and salt: Toss with butter and sprinkle with kosher salt.
• Basil butter: Combine butter with basil, adding garlic and lemon zest if desired.
• Cilantro lime butter: Mix butter with cilantro, lime zest, and a touch of green chile sauce.
• Garlic butter: Combine butter with garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley for colour.
• Lemon-y butter: Mix butter with lemon juice and lemon zest.

So there you have it! Plenty of ways to season your steamed green beans to perfection. Enjoy!

How to trim green beans

Steaming is a great way to cook green beans, and it's super easy! Before you start steaming, you'll want to trim your beans. Here's a quick and easy method for how to do that:

• Grab a handful of beans (around 15 to 20) and place them on a cutting board. Make a uniform pile with the beans lined up lengthwise. They don't all need to be facing the same way since you'll be cutting off both ends.
• Line up all the ends of the beans against your knife edge, then cut them off.
• Flip the beans around and push them towards your knife blade so that the other ends line up. Grab the pile and slice off these ends.
• If you want, cut the beans into bite-sized pieces. If your recipe calls for long beans, you can skip this step.

And that's it! You're now ready to steam your beans. Here's a simple method for doing so:

• Rinse your trimmed beans in a colander.
• Place one inch of water in a pot or deep skillet. If you have one, place a steamer basket inside the pot. The water level should not be so high that it comes up through the holes in the steamer basket.
• Fill the steamer basket with the beans or place them directly in the water if you don't have a steamer basket.
• Place a lid on the pot or skillet, turn the heat to high, and bring the water to a boil (this should take about 3 minutes).
• Steam the beans for about 5 to 7 minutes, depending on how tender or crisp you like them. Aim for beans that are vibrant in colour and tender but still have a bit of bite.
• Once the beans are cooked to your liking, remove the pot from the heat. If using a steamer basket, remove it from the pot and discard the water. If you don't have a steamer basket, use a colander to remove the beans from the water.
• Place the beans back in the pot and add some butter. Stir the beans as the residual heat melts the butter.
• Season the beans with salt and pepper, then serve.

How to steam frozen green beans

Steaming frozen green beans is a simple and quick way to cook them while retaining their colour, texture, and nutritional value. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam frozen green beans:

Step 1: Prepare the Beans

Firstly, you will need to rinse the green beans in a colander. Next, snap off any ends that still have stems attached. You can also choose to cut the beans in half, or leave them whole.

Step 2: Prepare the Steamer

Place one inch of water in a pot or deep skillet. The amount of water should be such that it does not touch the steamer basket or the beans themselves. Place the steamer basket inside the pot.

Step 3: Steam the Beans

Fill the steamer basket with the washed green beans and place a lid on the pot. Turn the heat to high and bring the water to a boil, which should take about 3 minutes. Once the water is boiling, allow the beans to steam for about 5 minutes or until they reach your desired level of tenderness. Aim for beans that are a vibrant green colour and are tender but still have a bit of bite.

Step 4: Season the Beans

Once the beans are cooked to your liking, remove the pot from the heat and take out the steamer basket. Discard the water from the pot and place the beans back into the pot without the steamer basket. Add some butter and stir it into the beans, allowing the residual heat to melt the butter. Season the beans with salt and pepper, or other desired seasonings, and serve.

Tips and Variations:

• You can steam green beans without a steamer basket by placing them directly in the water. However, this may result in slightly uneven cooking.
• Frozen green beans may need a different cooking time, so check the package for recommended cooking times.
• To add some extra flavour to your beans, try seasoning them with lemon zest and juice, sesame oil and sesame seeds, minced garlic, grated parmesan cheese, or sliced green onions.
• To store leftover steamed green beans, keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 4 weeks.

How to steam green beans in a microwave

Steaming green beans in a microwave is a quick and easy process. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients

Give your fresh green beans a rinse in the sink, then place them on a cutting board and trim the stems. You can also cut the beans to your desired size. This is also a good time to prepare any other ingredients you want to add to your beans, such as butter, garlic, shallots, or bacon.

Step 2: Add Green Beans and Water to a Microwave-Safe Bowl

Place your prepared green beans in a microwave-safe bowl or casserole dish. If you want to add extra flavour, you can also add optional ingredients like garlic, shallots, or onions. Sprinkle the beans with a pinch of salt and cover the bowl with a lid or microwave-safe plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap is tightly sealed.

Add just enough water to the bowl to cover the bottom by about 1/8 inch (about 2-3 tablespoons should be enough).

Step 3: Cook Your Green Beans

Place the bowl in the microwave and select a cook time depending on how crunchy or tender you like your beans. For crunchier beans, cook for 4 minutes. For tender beans, cook for 5-6 minutes.

Remove the bowl from the microwave using oven mitts, and carefully remove the plastic wrap – the steam will be very hot. Drain any excess water from the bowl, then add a tab of butter, olive oil, or your desired seasoning. Toss to coat and sprinkle with salt and pepper, or other seasonings, to taste.

Tips:

• The cook time may vary depending on the wattage of your microwave and the portion size, so check your user manual for guidance.
• Microwaving green beans helps to preserve vitamins and minerals, as the shorter cook time means fewer nutrients are lost.
• You can also steam canned green beans in the microwave. Simply drain the excess liquid from the can and heat the beans for 1-2 minutes on high.

Frequently asked questions