Can you dehydrate canned green beans? Not so long ago, I asked the same question. So I searched for an answer and learned something that I want to share in this post.
Dehydrating canned foods is a great way to preserve them. It offers many benefits from maximizing the storage space to flavor enhancement.
However, it is also important to remember that not all canned goods can be dehydrated. If you are planning to dehydrate green beans for the first time, read this post first.
Can You Dehydrate Canned Green Beans?
You can dehydrate canned green beans. It is a great way to save space in your storage. Dehydrating works well with plain canned green beans, not with some sort of sauce.
If you are planning to dehydrate canned green beans, buy the plain ones. It will be easier to work with in the dehydration process.
How to Dehydrate Canned Green Beans?
Dehydrating canned green beans is super simple and quick. You do not have to have a fancy dehydrator. What you need is a few kitchen tools and you are good to go.
Here are the simple steps in dehydrating canned green beans:
1. Open the can.
2. Put a strainer on top of the medium-sized bowl.
3. Pour beans into the strainer and let the liquid drains down into the bottom of the bowl.
4. After several minutes or once all the liquid had drained, spread the bean on the racks.
5. Dry the beans on low temperature for about 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
That simple. Anyone can do it. It does not require special skills to get it done. If you want to use it later, make sure that the dried green beans are stored in a secure container.
How to Use Dehydrated Canned Green Beans?
There must be a valid reason why you want to dehydrate canned green beans. But if this is your time, things may not be clear to you. Maybe you ask yourself what to do with the dehydrated canned green beans?
Well, it may surprise you if I tell you that there are many uses of dehydrated canned green beans.
Here are the things you can do dehydrated canned green beans:
1. Rehydrate the beans by soaking in water for about 20-30 minutes, season them, and serve.
2. Add them to your soup.
3. You can also grind them and sprinkle into your favorite salad.
These are just a few uses that I tried before. I am sure there are way more delicious recipes you do with dehydrated canned green beans.
Like many things in life, creativity is only the limit. So keep on experimenting.
Can You Dehydrate Fresh Green Beans?
If you love fresh green beans, chances are you have more of it than the processed ones. Some people in fact have green beans in their own garden.
If this is your case, then you might be wondering if you can dehydrate them. Fortunately, you can dehydrate fresh green beans. It allows you to preserve the beans for a long period of time and use them when needed.
Here are the simple steps in dehydrating fresh green beans:
1. Snap the ends off and wash the beans thoroughly. You can do it with cold water.
2. Blanch the green beans for about 5 minutes. This process will help the beans dehydrate quickly.
3. After five minutes, throw them into cold water to stop the cooking process.
4. Drain the beans and then cut them into 1-inch pieces.
5. After draining, place the beans on the dehydrator tray in a single layer. I recommend that you spread the beans on the tray to provide even airflow.
6. Dry the beans at 125 degrees until they become crispy. Stir them occasionally every several hours to dry them evenly.
7. Store the dried green beans in an airtight container.
As you can see, this simple method involved blanching. Many of my readers though asked me they can dehydrate green beans without blanching.
So I decided to include my answer in this post.
Can You Dehydrate Green Beans without Blanching?
Before answering this question, it may be important to understand what blanching does to vegetables.
Blanching is the process of steaming or boiling vegetables for a short period of time. The result is partially cooked veggies. This is normally done in leafy greens, string beans, broccoli, okra, and asparagus to name a few.
The main purpose of blanching is to stop the enzymatic process in the vegetables which deteriorates them. Blanching kills enzymes before they destroy the quality of the veggies.
Blanching also helps the vegetables retain their color, flavor, and texture after the drying process. Dehydrated vegetables that did not undergo blanching tend to have lower quality than those that were blanched.
So, can you dehydrate green beans without blanching?
You can definitely dehydrate green beans without blanching but you might not get the best result.
Is Blanching Needed Before Dehydrating Green Beans?
As mentioned, blanching is an optional procedure before dehydrating green beans. That said, you can dehydrate green beans without blanching them.
The only drawback will be that the green beans will turn dark when they dry. If that is okay with you, then you can proceed with dehydrating green beans without blanching.
In my case though, I prefer to blanch the green beans before dehydrating them. There are benefits of blanching green beans.
Here are a few of them:
1. Blanching helps retain color and taste of the beans
As mentioned, blanching retains the color and taste of the green beans. This is because, during the process, the enzymes were stopped from deteriorating the beans. Another thing is that blanching also cleans the beans further. The dirt and pathogens are washed out during the process.
2. Accelerates the dehydrating process
The other benefit of blanching is that it initially softens the skin of the green beans making the drying process easier and quicker. This works well, especially when you’re dehydrating vegetables with thicker and harder skin.
3. Prolongs the shelf life of the green beans
The last benefit of blanching is that it helps the dried products safe and healthy to eat for months. This is primarily due to the elimination of enzymes and pathogens during blanching.
Final Thought
With all being said, I hope I answered the question “Can You Dehydrate Canned Green Beans?” I also hope that all the tips and steps in dehydrating both canned and fresh green beans help.
I assume that, by now, you already have a pretty good idea when it comes to dehydrating beans. But as you explore more, you’ll find other tips and tricks online. So keep learning. Thanks for reading.