Characteristics of Green Beans When Ripe

Color

• Ripe green beans have a bright green color that is uniform over the entire bean pod. Don't pick beans with blemishes on the pod, those that have a mottled appearance or beans that do not have a uniform green color.

Size and Texture

• According to the University of Illinois Extension office, a ripe green bean is typically about the width of a pencil. Harvest beans when they are crisp, but not too firm. They should be picked before you can see the lump of the bean through the skin. These beans are over-ripe and the pod will be too tough and stringy to eat. However, you can still use these beans as long as you shell them before eating them.

Storage

• Once picked, you can keep green beans in the refrigerator for about three days as long as they are kept in a plastic bag. Don't wash the beans before storing them, otherwise they will not keep as long.

Selection Tips

• When possible, buy green beans from markets or stores where they are available loose in large bins so you can pick through to select desired beans, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises. Try to pick beans with similar lengths and widths so that they cook evenly. If you have a mix of sizes, some of the beans may get overcooked while others will still be undercooked.