How Can I Make My Green Beans Taste Better?

When I was first married I would just open a can of green beans, and added a little butter and salt. I heated them in a small saucepan until heated through.  What can I say? I was seventeen and didn’t know any better although my dad was a professional cook.  As I got older I thought “How can I make my green beans taste better?”  There has got to be more than just butter and salt.  

 My husband grew up in the country with a vegetable garden every spring and summer. I on the other hand lived in the “city” (gasp) and canned vegetables from the grocery store and had no experience with fresh veggies or a vegetable garden. After we married, he planted our own vegetable garden and I was introduced to fresh green beans. 

My husband and I argued frequently.  I didn’t grow up in the “city”. It was actually the suburbs.  But to him, the two were one and the same.  But anyway, needless to say, I was clueless regarding vegetables from a homegrown garden.  But I learned fast. 

How Can I Make My Green Beans Taste Better?

With fresh green beans, bacon and bacon grease does wonders.  Go here to see the way I make fresh green beans. 

But what about canned green beans?  Cook the green beans with chicken or beef broth.  Low and slow. The broth will seep into the beans adding flavor. Bacon and bacon grease work well with canned green beans as well. No bacon grease?  Use olive oil. The bacon adds a smokey and meaty flavor.  Add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and thyme will add flavor to those beans. Caramelized garlic. Just saute the garlic in olive oil.  Once caramelized add the green beans and heat through. 

There are many recipes to elevate the taste of those green beans.  Such as green bean casserole.  Unfortunately, I don’t really care for green bean casserole.   My favorite recipe! Smothered green beans. This recipe will jazz up your green beans. Especially if you like things more on the sweeter side. Like me!

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Fresh Green Beans VS Canned

Many think that fresh is best when it comes to nutritional values.  But canned can actually be almost as good.  Why? Because most canned vegetables are preserved at the height of their freshness retaining more nutrients than you think. 

While fresh offers crunch and you can buy in season. Canned will last longer and is more convenient. So go with fresh when you can get them. But there is no reason to feel bad about stocking your pantry with canned.

While fresh offers crunch and you can buy in season. Canned will last longer and is more convenient. So go with fresh when you can get them. But there is no reason to feel bad about stocking your pantry with canned. Watch the video below

Should You Drain And Rinse Canned Green Beans?

Unless the recipes call for the liquid in canned green beans then yes you should drain and rinse them.  It lowers sodium by removing excess salt and starch and will improve the flavor as well. It may also remove the metallic flavor that is often found in canned beans, 

Have you ever heard of the term Flat-Sour? It is when canned green beans have an unappealing off-flavor. The cause: Keeping jars of just processed green beans warm too long. Example: leaving the jars in the canner or covering them with a towel.

How I Make My Green Beans Taste Better

When I am in a hurry I just add some bacon and some of the grease, salt, pepper, and onion powder. If I’m crunched for time I just add some bacon grease that I keep on hand in the refrigerator and skip frying up some bacon. But if I have time my favorite recipe for great-tasting canned green beans is Smothered green beans.  I actually just made them today for our family Easter Dinner. My son-in-law loves them.  My daughter-in-law not so much.  But then you can’t please everyone, can you? Continue reading for this awesome recipe. 

Smothered Green Beans Recipe

Final Thoughts

Nothing blander tasting than green beans straight out of the can or fresh green beans with no additions. You can make your green beans taste better by adding flavorful ingredients such as bacon, bacon grease, garlic, butter, olive oil, or onion. 

Fresh green beans do have an edge over canned regarding the nutritional value and fresh is great when available, but canned will do nicely as well.

Drain and rinse your canned green beans if the recipe doesn’t call for the liquid. By doing so you will decrease the sodium and help alleviate that metallic taste that is often found in canned green beans.

There are many recipes that will make your green beans taste better. Smothered green beans is one. How do you make your green beans taste better? Please leave me a comment below 

And As Always

Have A Wonderful Day!