Kidney beans can be eaten fresh from the garden or dried for later use. Once dried, kidney beans can be stored in a cool place for several years and used when needed. There are several methods of drying kidney beans. All are simple, and how you choose to do it depends on which method best suits your lifestyle.
Instructions
On the Vine
1. Allow the kidney bean pods and the plants to remain in the garden until both the pods and the plant turn dry and brown.
2. Harvest the beans from the plants before removing the plants from the ground.
3. Shell the beans into a bowl and store in airtight containers until needed.
Hanging to Dry
4. Pull the entire kidney been plant up by the roots.
5. Tie the root ends of the plants into bundles using medium-weight string.
6. Hang the bundles in an area that has airflow but is out of the sun and rain. Let the beans and the plant dry until they are brown and brittle.
7. Shell the beans from the pods and store.
On Newspaper
8. Pick the kidney bean pods from the plant.
9. Lay out newspaper in an area that has plenty of airflow but is out of the weather.
10. Lay the bean pods on the newspaper and let them dry until brittle. Turn the beans every few days to expose the entire bean to the air.
11. Shell the beans from the pod and store.
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