I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for freezing
and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them. Today for a
change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and tailed) and frankly
they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter cooked whole. Presumably
the water leaches out the natural sugars easier when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

You live and learn.

David.

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I agree. but I don't even tail them, just take off the knobbly bit at the
stem end if I've pulled it off with the bean.

Like you, I spent decades slicing them.

Also, I put them in a pan with about 1/2" of water and cook them gently for
about four minutes, so that they squeak when we bite into them!

Tonight I did masses - because we've been away and they haven't been picked.
Spouse had toms, salad blue pots, hot smoked salmon and the beans (and
mayonnaise made with our banties' eggs) and I had an Arbroath smokie (from
Arbroath on our way home) instead of the salmon.

Bliss ...

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

Yes. What a waste of life!

You live and learn.

Today I gave No 5 child a handful of beans and insisted that he cooked them
whole, he said he'd try it (daren't disobey even at 38!) so he's learning
too.

Mary

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be cut
into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be cut
into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Mary

Thanks for the tip! I am going to try steaming them!... solaara

On Aug 11, 7:27 pm, "David \(Normandy\)"
wrote:
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for freezing
and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them. Today for a
change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and tailed) and frankly
they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter cooked whole. Presumably
the water leaches out the natural sugars easier when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

You live and learn.

David.

David, did you take the stringy side bit out?

Judith

" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Aug 11, 7:27 pm, "David \(Normandy\)"
wrote:
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing
and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them. Today for
a
change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and tailed) and
frankly
they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter cooked whole.
Presumably
the water leaches out the natural sugars easier when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

You live and learn.

David.

David, did you take the stringy side bit out?

Judith


The beans are a stringless variety, or at least they are until they get too
big and old to eat anyway.

David.

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
et...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I agree. but I don't even tail them, just take off the knobbly bit at the
stem end if I've pulled it off with the bean.

Like you, I spent decades slicing them.

Also, I put them in a pan with about 1/2" of water and cook them gently
for about four minutes, so that they squeak when we bite into them!

Tonight I did masses - because we've been away and they haven't been
picked. Spouse had toms, salad blue pots, hot smoked salmon and the beans
(and mayonnaise made with our banties' eggs) and I had an Arbroath smokie
(from Arbroath on our way home) instead of the salmon.

Bliss ...

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

Yes. What a waste of life!

You live and learn.

Today I gave No 5 child a handful of beans and insisted that he cooked
them whole, he said he'd try it (daren't disobey even at 38!) so he's
learning too.

Mary


Right - I'll leave on the pointy end too then! I like them cooked just past
squeaky but still firm. My teeth disapprove of squeaky food :-( sends
shudders down my spine.

David.

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be cut
into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Mary




I have to agree having tasted the difference. Cutting them must allow all
the natural sugars to soak out in cooking. It also explains why they leave
my fingers sticky after slicing them - it is all the sugar content in them.

David.

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...



David, did you take the stringy side bit out?

Judith


The beans are a stringless variety, or at least they are until they get
too big and old to eat anyway.

David.

Yes, you don't leave them to grow to the stringy stage.

Mary

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007, David (Normandy) wrote:

I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be cut
into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Mary

I have to agree having tasted the difference. Cutting them must allow all
the natural sugars to soak out in cooking. It also explains why they leave
my fingers sticky after slicing them - it is all the sugar content in them.


Well, having read this thread I thought I would try not slicing them,
nor even topping and tailing them. They were my first pickings of the
year. They were tender, no stringiness and even the tops and tails were
edible. But .... I didn't think the flavour was any different to be
honest!

David (writing from Normandy!)

--
David Rance http://www.mesnil.demon.co.uk
Fido Address: 2:252/110 writing from Le Mesnil Villement, Calvados, France

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them.
Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and
tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter
cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural sugars easier
when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be cut
into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Maybe, but i like just to be able to stick a fork in them and put them in my
mouth, don't want to have to cut them on the plate!

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did
them. Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped
and tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much
sweeter cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural
sugars easier when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be
cut into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Maybe, but i like just to be able to stick a fork in them and put them in
my mouth, don't want to have to cut them on the plate!

You don't!

Just put them in your mouth.

In fact I don't use a fork, I pick them up and bite them.

Mary

On Sat, 11 Aug 2007 20:27:30 +0200, David (Normandy) wrote:

I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for freezing
and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did them. Today for a
change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped and tailed) and frankly
they were better than sliced! They are much sweeter cooked whole. Presumably
the water leaches out the natural sugars easier when sliced or diced.

Tried it tonight (first time ever) - absolutely wonderful :-)

Thanks David
--
Regards,

Hugh Jampton

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...

"Alan Holmes" wrote in message
...

"David (Normandy)" wrote in message
...
I've spent many hours slicing runner beans for consumption and for
freezing and for the simple reason that that is how my parents did
them. Today for a change we ate some steamed beans whole (just topped
and tailed) and frankly they were better than sliced! They are much
sweeter cooked whole. Presumably the water leaches out the natural
sugars easier when sliced or diced.

I can't believe the number of hours I've wasted slicing beans, only to
reduce their taste!

I never slice beans, but I do pick them early so they just have to be
cut into chunks and boiled for a short time.

Picking them early is the clue.

Not cutting them at all is the best way.

Maybe, but i like just to be able to stick a fork in them and put them in
my mouth, don't want to have to cut them on the plate!

You don't!

Just put them in your mouth.

In fact I don't use a fork, I pick them up and bite them.

Ah, but I'm bit more posh than you!(:-)