String Beans

Storage: Keep green beans in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper. Green beans will stay fresh for three to five days.

Preparation: Snap or trim both ends. Wash fresh green beans thoroughly in clear, cool water. Lift beans from the wash water and leave garden debris behind. Rinse again.

Taste: Earthy, vibrant, fresh.

Nutritional Benefits: Green beans are loaded with vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. Vitamin C helps the body hold tissues together, keep the skin strong and intact, prevent brittle bones, and assist tendons and ligaments to keep muscles and joints in place. Vitamin K also helps the body form blood clots, which prevent blood loss after an injury.