Canning green beans is one of the easiest canning recipes to learn on! They’re almost foolproof! These simple instructions will show you how to pressure can green beans so they are shelf-stable, nutritious and delicious! You’ll be canning green beans in no time!
It may sound strange to some, but canning food is one of my favorite hobbies. It relaxes me and fills my heart that I can provide good nutritious and tasty foods for my own family, friends and neighbors. Ask either of my girls and they will tell you that mom loves to hear her jars ping signaling that they are sealed and ready to go on the shelf. Plus, any home canner will tell you that there is just something real pretty about looking at jars upon jars of food that you canned yourself.
Canning Green Beans for Beginners
Canning green beans and honestly, canning in general, has a tendency to be very overwhelming and scary to anyone who is new to the home canning process. The truth is that yes, it can be dangerous…
if…
and I do mean if, you don’t follow safety measures. Things such as making sure your jars have enough liquid in them. Hint: Fill your jars to 1-inch headspace, otherwise known as 1 inch below the rim of the jar.
Or other safety measures like not removing air bubbles from your jars or not venting your canner properly.
Notice what I did not mention? Botulism. Botulism is the canning boogey man. Could it exist in improperly canned goods? ABSOLUTELY and I will never tell you that it doesn’t or couldn’t.
But, according to the CDC themselves, from 1990 to 2017 there were only 170 documented cases of home canning related botulism. That works out to just over 6 cases per year.
So what am I actually saying? Should you be worried about it? Of course. Enough to take the proper safety precautions. But should you allow it to scare you away from learning how to can green beans or other foods? Absolutely not. It’s such a small number per year that it really is kind of a non-starter.
Do You Have to Blanch Green Beans Before You Can Them?
In the canning community there is a lot of difference in opinions and whether or not to blanch green beans or other vegetables before canning is one of them. Some say if you do and use the hot pack method they will have a better flavor or color. Others say it doesn’t matter.
Truth is, I fall into the latter group. Canning can already be a lot of work and blanching things so you can hot pack them is usually more work than I want to add. I blanch a few things for canning, but green beans is not one of them.
In either case, blanching or not blanching does not make the process any more or less safe.
What is the Best Method of Canning Green Beans?
If you’re wondering how to can green beans without a pressure cooker, guess what?
According to the USDA (National Center for Home Food Preservation), you can’t. The last time the USDA tested canning green beans was 2009 and according to them, green beans must be pressure canned in order to kill botulism toxin and any other potential toxins.
Now, with that said; the US is one of the only countries in the world that does not can everything by water bath canning and I do know people who follow those European canning rules. These folks can green beans in a water bath for 30-minutes. This is made safe by adding a small amount of 5% acidity white vinegar to each jar.
By increasing the acidity of the green beans, they’re safe to water bath. But this post is not about how to water bath can green beans.
What Supplies Do I Need to Can Green Beans?
If you have never canned before, there are a few must-have canning supplies that you’ll need before you can get started making canned green beans.
Because green beans require pressure canning, you’ll need to have a good pressure canner to process them in. THIS is the one I use most of the time and love it!
You will also need:
Do I Need to Sanitize Canning Jars and Boil Canning Lids?
One upon a time, it was recommended that you sterilize all canning jars, lids and rings by boiling them, however, these days we know that it is not all necessary. Since your canning jars will be processed at temps higher than boiling, the only thing necessary is to wash and dry your canning jars in hot water and a good dish soap very well.
With that said, lids should still be boiled. The reason behind this is that boiling helps to soften the rubber around your seal. Simply simmer them until you need them.
Canning Green Beans in 6 Simple Steps
The process for canning green beans is a bit time consuming but totally worth it. It can be easiest if you’re canning a few pounds of green beans to work in batches.
- Wash the green beans well.
- Trim or snap the ends and pull the string. Honestly, it’s far quicker to use a knife to trim them, however, snapping is rather zen like.
- Cut green beans to the length you prefer. Most do either bite sized pieces or leave whole.
- Fill canning jars. Add 1 tsp canning salt per jar if you prefer. This is for taste only so it’s perfectly fine to leave it out.
- Ladle boiling water into to jars then top with lid and ring tightened finger tight.
- Vent canner for 10 minutes and process pint jars for 20 minutes and quart jars for 25 minutes according to your altitude.
Green Beans Canning Altitude Chart
ALTITUDE DIAL GAUGE WEIGHTED GAUGE
- 0-1000 11lbs 10lbs
- 1001-2000 11lbs 15lbs
- 2001-4000 12lbs 15lbs
- 4001-6000 13lbs 15lbs
- 6001-8000 14lbs 15lbs
- 8001-10000 15lbs 15lbs
So, what do you think? Will you be canning green beans anytime soon?
Canning Green Beans Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- Fresh Green Beans Ends Trimmed, String Removed
- 1 tsp Canning Salt Per Jar, optional
Instructions
- Wash and trim green beans. Cut into bite sized pieces if you prefer.Fresh Green Beans
- Pack Jars tightly with green beans, add canning salt and fill jars with boiling water leaving 1" headspace. Add lid and ring tightened fingertip tight.1 tsp Canning Salt
- Add jars to pressure canner and vent canner for 10 minutes. Process pints for 20 minutes or quarts for 25 minutes using the appropriate PSI for your altitude.
- Wait for pressure to come down in canner, remove jars and allow to sit undisturbed 12-24 hours before checking seals. Reprocess or refrigerate/use immediately any unsealed jars.
Notes
Green Beans Canning Altitude Chart
ALTITUDE DIAL GAUGE WEIGHTED GAUGE- 0-1000 11lbs 10lbs
- 1001-2000 11lbs 15lbs
- 2001-4000 12lbs 15lbs
- 4001-6000 13lbs 15lbs
- 6001-8000 14lbs 15lbs
- 8001-10000 15lbs 15lbs
- Since this canning recipe includes boiling water, it is best to start with jars that have been slightly warmed in the oven. This will reduce the chances of having a cold jar explode from temperature changes when you add the boiling water.
- Canning salt is optional. It is added to the recipe only for taste. You may skip it if you prefer.
- You may waterbath green beans by adding 2 Tbsp white vinegar to each jar. This will raise the acidity of green beans making them safe for waterbath canning. Process in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes once you have achieved a full rolling boil.