De-Stringing String Beans

Many cooks and gardeners question the need to snap each and every end off all their green beans versus just lining them up and cutting the ends off. Many modern varieties of beans don't actually require snapping the ends off, but there are many heirloom string bean varities, like the ones in your box, have a tough fiber, or 'string', along the seam. So how do you de-string a bean?

1. Grasp the end of a bean firmly between your thumb and index finger.
2. Twist the tip down toward its seam with a quick, even motion. A fresh bean should snap readily.
3. Draw the broken tip down along the seam to remove the tough fiber that may be present. Most green beans available today do not have this “string,” but heirloom varieties may.
4. Snap off the other end of the bean in the same way.
5. Discard the snapped-off ends and any fibers in the small bowl. Place the trimmed bean in the large bowl.