Are mature runner beans edible

Discussion in 'Edible Gardening' started by sawfish, Nov 5, 2006.

  1. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    I have lots of stringy old mature runner beans left and was wondering if I could take the beans out and cook them for eating?
     
  2. wiseowl

    wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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    Hi sawfish
    If i were you i would put them a brown paper bag and let them go to seed,use them next year.
    I never buy new ones,but then maybe the old ways
    of gardening are not in fashion anymore and one of our gardening friends (chefs) can give you some better advice.good luck.
     
  3. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    thank you, but are they edible in this state?
     
  4. wiseowl

    wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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    If you have a full set!Go for it
     
  5. macleaf

    macleaf Gardener

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    Im not sure what W means by a full set,but i would save them for next year keep them a dry but warm room,not to warm as they will start to shoot
     
  6. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    I'm talking about eating the beans though. Can I eat them or do they turn poisonous with age.

    I have tons so I wouldn't want to plant them all.
     
  7. wiseowl

    wiseowl Admin Staff Member

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    Hi Sawfish
    Sorry i can,t find the answer for you ,but i will keep looking.
     
  8. Liz

    Liz Gardener

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    I do eat them- I save some for seed next year but if there are a lot I take them in to dry them off and use in soups etc. I can't see any reason why they could be harmful, as long as they haven't gone mouldy.
     
  9. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    Seems sensible to me as you cant eat them all when they're small whole beans. There's millions!
     
  10. eleagnus7

    eleagnus7 Gardener

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    As long as they are not mouldy they are perfectly OK to eat.May need a little more time in the water if they are dryish.
     
  11. Celia

    Celia Gardener

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    They do tend to get very stringy though and you could be chewing them for hours!
     
  12. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    I think its the outer green pods that get tough and stringy, surely not the beans?
     
  13. macleaf

    macleaf Gardener

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  14. Dave W

    Dave W Total Gardener

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    Sawfish we are currently drying our excess runner and french beans and will use them in soups.
     
  15. sawfish

    sawfish Gardener

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    great. Theyre so beautiful too although I'm sure the colours will go when cooked.
     
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