Green beans are young, unripe fruits of variouscultivars of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).[1][2] Green beans are known by several common names, includingFrench beans,[3]string beans (although most modern varieties are "stringless"),[3] andsnap beans[3] or simply "snaps".[4][5] In the Philippines, they are also known as "Baguio beans" or "habichuelas" to distinguish them fromyardlong beans.[6]
Immature or young pods of the runner bean (P. coccineus), yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata subsp.sesquipedalis), and hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus) are used in a similar way.[7] Green beans are distinguished from the many other bean varieties in that they are harvested and consumed with their enclosing pods before the bean seeds inside have fully matured. An analogous practice is the harvest and consumption of unripenedpea pods, as is done withsnow peas orsugar snap peas.
As common food in many countries, green beans are sold fresh, canned, and frozen. They can be eaten raw or steamed, boiled, stir-fried, or baked. They are commonly cooked in other dishes, such assoups,stews, andcasseroles. Green beans can be pickled, similarly tocucumbers.
A dish with green beans common throughout the northern US, particularly atThanksgiving, isgreen bean casserole, a dish of green beans,cream of mushroom soup, andFrench-fried onions.[8]
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 131 kJ (31 kcal) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6.97 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dietary fiber | 2.7 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
0.22 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1.83 g | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other constituents | Quantity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water | 90 g | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Percentages estimated usingUS recommendations for adults,[9] except for potassium, which is estimated based on expert recommendation from theNational Academies.[10] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Raw green beans are 90% water, 7%carbohydrates, 2%protein, and contain negligiblefat. In a 100-gram (3+1⁄2-ounce) reference amount, raw green beans supply 131 kilojoules (31 kilocalories) offood energy and are a moderate source (range 10–19% of theDaily Value) ofvitamin C andvitamin K, with no othermicronutrients in significant content.
The green bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) originated in Central and South America, where there is evidence that it has been cultivated in Mexico and Peru for thousands of years.[11]
The first "stringless" bean was bred in 1894 by Calvin Keeney, called the "father of the stringless bean," while working inLe Roy, New York.[12] Most modern green bean varieties do not have strings.[7]
Green beans are classified by growth habit into two major groups, "bush" (or "dwarf") beans and "pole" (or "climbing") beans.[13][14][15]
Bush beans are short plants, growing to not more than 2 feet (61 cm) in height, often without requiring supports. They generally reach maturity and produce all of their fruit in a relatively short period, then cease to produce. Owing to this concentrated production and ease of mechanized harvesting, bush-type beans are those most often grown on commercial farms. Bush green beans are usually cultivars of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).
Pole beans have a climbing habit and produce a twisting vine, which must be supported by "poles,"trellises, or other means. Pole beans may be common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) or yardlong beans (Vigna unguiculata subsp.sesquipedalis).[16][17]
Half-runner beans have both bush and pole characteristics, and are sometimes classified separately from bush and pole varieties.[18][19][20][21] Their runners can be about one to three metres (3–10 feet) long.[22][irrelevant citation]
Over 130 varieties (cultivars) of edible pod beans are known.[23] Varieties specialized for use as green beans, selected for the succulence and flavor of their green pods, are the ones usually grown in the home vegetable garden, and many varieties exist. Beans with various pod colors (green, purple, red, or streaked.[24]) are collectively known as snap beans, while green beans are exclusively green. Pod shapes range from thin and circular ("fillet" types) to wide and flat ("romano" types) and more common types in between.
The three most commonly known types of green beans belonging to the speciesPhaseolus vulgaris are string or snap beans, which may be round or have a flat pod; stringless or French beans, which lack a tough, fibrous string running along the length of the pod; and runner beans, which belong to a separate species,Phaseolus coccineus. Green beans may have a purple rather than green pod, which changes to green when cooked.[25][page needed]Yellow-podded green beans are also known aswax beans.[7]Wax bean cultivars are commonly of the bush or dwarf form.[26][page needed]
All of the following varieties have green pods and arePhaseolus vulgaris unless otherwise specified:
| Production of green beans – 2020 (millions oftonnes) | |
|---|---|
 China | 18.0 |
 Indonesia | 0.9 |
 India | 0.6 |
 Turkey | 0.5 |
 Thailand | 0.3 |
| World | 23.3 |
| Source:FAOSTAT of theUnited Nations[32] | |
In 2020, world production of green beans was 23 million tonnes, withChina accounting for 77% of the total.
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