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The Best Way to Cook Green Beans

Use these recommendations for getting the most out of green beans.

Shopping Notes

Slender crisp green beans are best boiled. Older, tougher green beans (the kind found in supermarkets at most times of the year) are best roasted.

Preparations

Trim ends.

Basic Cooking Method

Roasting promotes the conversion of starches to sugars, thus improving flavor. Toss 1 pound trimmed beans with 1 tablespoon olive oil and roast on foil-lined baking sheet in 450-degree oven for 20 minutes. Turn beans once for even browning.

To trim ends from green beans, line up beans on board and trim all ends with just one slice.

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