Beans should be picked while the pods still snap, and the beans have not filled the pod out completely. Beans get tough and stringy if allowed to grow too big. If beans are picked when they are ready, the plants will continue producing for several weeks. When harvesting, use two hands to hold the bean and pull it from the stem; yanking it off the stem with one hand can often damage the plant.
Fresh beans should be stored in plastic bags or other containers in the refrigerator for a week or so. Some varieties can also be canned, frozen, or air-dried on screens.
It is fat-free, saturated fat-free, sodium-free, cholesterol-free, high in dietary fiber, and high in folate.
