runner beans help

[HarlotOTara]

I have grown some runner beans for the first time and they have done really well. However I now have som pods with big beans in them and am not sure what to do/ Do I cook them or dry them. If I cook them from fresh how do I do it? Sorry to sound so ignorant but I am (at least in the instance .

[WigWamBam]

Slice them without taking the beans out, if they aren't too big. The beans inside will still slice easily enough.

If the beans are too big, though, they will be tough and not tasty - runner beans are best picked before the beans inside get too big. You can remove and dry the beans (just leave them somewhere warm and dry) and cook them later, or you can can dry them to plant next year, but they will need to be really big for that.

[HarlotOTara]

Wigwam,

Thanks for replying - they are really big - have had so many I haven't been able to pick them all. So drying them rather than eating fresh - have no idea what they would taste like anyway.

[WigWamBam]

They're a bit like kidney beans. You can use them fresh, if you like - just sling them in with casseroles and things, or dry them and then treat as any other dried bean - soak overnight, boil vigorously for ten minutes and then simmer for an hour or so.

Or just save them to grow next year's runner beans from!

[ChupitosGalore]

ive got runner beans too. i dont actually remember planting any tho [??]... i thought they were all borlotti beans, but some are clearly runner beans. v nice they are too