How to Clean Green Beans

Co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano

Last Updated: May 18, 2022 References

Green beans are not only delicious and healthy but they are also easy to clean. Washing your green beans can help reduce pesticide residue while preventing food-borne illness. Simply rinse the beans in a colander. If you have picked the green beans fresh from the garden, you can soak them to remove dirt. As you prepare the beans, it is important to practice good hygiene in the kitchen to prevent cross-contamination.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Rinsing Store-Bought Green Beans

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e9\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid8723888-v4-728px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Place beans in a colander. For the best results, put the beans in a colander or wash basket. This will let you wash the beans under the sink while the water drains. ^{[1]
X
Expert Source

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.}
- If you do not have a colander, you can rinse the beans in a bowl, draining the water from the bowl after you wash them.
- You can also fill a clean sink with cool water and bathe the beans that way. ^{[2]
 X
 Expert Source
 
 Ollie George Cigliano
 Private Chef & Food Educator
 
 Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.}
- If you have nothing else that will work, you can hold the beans in your hands as you wash them. Keep a tight grasp so that they do not fall.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/23\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-2-Version-4.jpg\/aid8723888-v4-728px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-2-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

2
Run water over the beans. Turn on cold water from the tap. Set the green beans under the running water. If using a bowl or colander, move the beans around with your hands to make sure that they are evenly washed. ^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

Expert Interview. 18 October 2021.}
- As you run water over the beans, remove visible dirt with your fingers.
- The water you use to clean the beans should be water that is safe to drink. If it is not safe, use distilled or bottled water instead. ^{[4]
 X
 Research source}
Advertisement
You can remove extra bacteria from the beans by drying them with a towel after washing. Use paper towels to gently pat the green beans dry. ^{[5]
X
Research source} Once the beans have been washed and dried, you can trim and prepare them for cooking.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Soaking Green Beans from the Garden

Download Article

If you are cleaning beans fresh from the garden, the best way to remove dirt is to soak the beans. Fill a bowl or basin with cold water. There should be enough to cover the beans. ^{[6]
X
Research source}
Place the beans in the bowl, and let them soak for one to two minutes. Use your fingers to rub away dirt. You can also move around the beans with your fingers. Before you drain them, let any dirt or soil settle to the bottom of the bowl. ^{[7]
X
Research source}
3
Drain the water. After a minute or two of washing, pour the beans into a colander. The water will drain from the bottom. If you do not have a colander, fold some paper towels, and set the beans on top. They will drain into the towel.
- If you are not eating the beans right away, pat them dry with a paper towel. Make sure they are completely dry before storage, as damp vegetables may spoil faster in the fridge. ^{[8]
  X
  Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-7-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-7-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/1d\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-7-Version-4.jpg\/aid8723888-v4-728px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-7-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

There may still be dirt on your green beans. Fill the bowl with clean water, and rinse them again. Do this until all of the dirt has been removed from the beans.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Practicing Safe Hygiene

Download Article

Before cleaning the green beans, wash your hands with warm water and antibacterial soap for at least twenty seconds. This is especially important if you have been touching raw meat or eggs. Always wash your hands between handling meat and working with produce. ^{[9]
X
Trustworthy Source
US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health
Go to source}
If you are cutting the green beans with a knife, make sure that you are using a different cutting board than you are for raw meats. This will help prevent cross-contamination and food-borne illness caused by bacteria, such as E. Coli and Salmonella. ^{[10]
X
Trustworthy Source
US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health
Go to source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-10-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-10-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f0\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-10-Version-4.jpg\/aid8723888-v4-728px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-10-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

If you see mold on the green bean, toss the bean out, as well as any other beans that the mold might have spread to. Do not try cutting away the mold and eating the rest of the bean, as this might be risky with green beans. ^{[11]
X
Research source}
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-11-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-11-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d0\/Clean-Green-Beans-Step-11-Version-4.jpg\/aid8723888-v4-728px-Clean-Green-Beans-Step-11-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

Many commercial produce washes are unnecessary when washing green beans. They are not any more effective at cleaning green beans than water is. ^{[12]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

Do string beans need to be washed before boiling?

Azzy Cohen

Community Answer

Yes, string beans need to be washed before boiling. All produce should be washed before boiling.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

You need to wash all green beans, including organic and homegrown, before cooking.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Domestic green beans may use more pesticides than imported ones.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

[1]

Expert Source

Ollie George Cigliano
Private Chef & Food Educator

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

Go to source

[10]

[11]

[12]

Log in

How to Clean Green Beans

Steps

Rinsing Store-Bought Green Beans

Soaking Green Beans from the Garden

Practicing Safe Hygiene

Community Q&A

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Quizzes

Explore Categories