Now you have gorgeous, uniformly trimmed beans. You can blanch them in salted water for 2 minutes, then shock them in ice water. They’ll stay bright green and crisp.
Or roast them at 425°F with olive oil, salt, and garlic. They’ll get blistered and nutty. Addictive doesn’t begin to cover it.
Steam them for 4 minutes. Toss them in butter and lemon zest. Boom—side dish that makes you look like you have your life together.
The one thing not to do
Do not leave the stem ends on and try to eat the beans raw. You’ll feel like you’re chewing on a twig. Respect the trim.
Also, don’t overthink the shape. If some beans are shorter than others, that’s character. It’s rustic. It’s artisanal. You’re a rebel.
And for the love of all that is green, don’t feel guilty if you skip trimming entirely. You can wash them and eat them whole. The stems won’t kill you. They’ll just annoy you.
So there you have it. Trimming green beans is a two-minute task that makes your food taste and look better. You’ve got this. Now go cook something—preferably with butter.