About Drying Beans

New Zealand Listener, Volume 6, Issue 155, 12 June 1942, Page 25

About Drying Beans

Dear Aunt Daisy, You were speaking of the difficulties one of our Links had in drying beans. Here are my experiences. Last year I had a bumper crop of runner beans, and so I tried various ways of preserving; this year I was not so lucky with the crop, but still it was quite good..I cannot bother you with all my failures, but out of them I give you the results. The runner beans are the best I tried. They had to be picked for drying, younger than for ordinary use. I picked them over every day, cut up only the best for drying, and used those not so good immediately. I tried both drying out of doors, and drying in the oven, and I had a lot of failures-and a lot of wasted beans and time. I was able to shut up a room where the window gets all the sun-there were no flies here, as out of doors, no wind to blow them over -and anyhow the sun was seldom hot

enough. But in the window I put some wire netting, covered it with an old tea towel, or similar thin material, cut the young beans up finely, and spread them on that. I could lift the cloth a bit and turn their positions in that way, putting thin layers at a time. The time depends on the amount of sun. I put each day’s cut closest to the window, and moved them around. That was the most successful of my drying experiments. I’m sending some to my son overseas. I heard you recount one of our Chain’s experiences using the salt and sugar method. My experience was that they were nicer, rather softer, than those just done in plain salt. I also made the mistake, once, of using iodised salt. I also dried peas and plums, all with the object of sending to my son in the Old Country, but for to-day this is my time limit. I soak the beans in very little water, and then steam them, with the merest sprinkle of sugar, and I never put salt until just a few minutes before they are done, They are as good as fresh-*" Experimenter" (Wellington). Thank you very much indeed, " Experimenter," for your kindness in giving other housewives the opportunity of profiting by your experiences, Probably the drying process would be quicker and easier in sunnier and warmer places, such as Central Otago, Marlborough, Nelson, Hawke’s Bay, and the North. Both flies and wind make outside drying difficult. Still, good results are obtained by patience and determination,