# Help! What are these beans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [September 23, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628 "2024-09-23T21:33:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/1 "2024-09-23T21:33:12Z")
Stopped at the farm market and they had these beans that they grew. I asked the lady at the cash register what they were, she said they were beans. I asked what kind and she blushed and said “big beans”. (She is just their employee) [![](https://i.imgur.com/AFLmhLJ.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/AFLmhLJ.jpeg) I’ll steam or air fry them as a side dish with my ceviche, but would love to know what they are. Rocks glass and pen because I have no bananas for scale. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/2 "2024-09-23T21:35:33Z")
Look like [Romano green beans](https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&sca_esv=a132f53bdbf2e8af&sca_upv=1&sxsrf=ADLYWIIJruS8oorHBdnDiez2umfuA26h5A:1727127291091&q=romano+green+beans&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0Aa4sjWe7Rqy32pFwRj0UkWd8nbOJfsBGGB5IQQO6L3J03RPjGV0MznOJ6Likin94rJ9c6IsLzGQTXjAiSXXDE5ixMZQNT97PDHc6w0YKtU-NbcpiHtMmyly4u5cUElELG76CqQhpbxMPtKS1DEjltrtr7A-h9flge00n1Ol5-gCqp1PlZr3FtsXPrJyeRj9q05r1UqtXHA-xd2v5oynKSEWth_Eg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiTg6vFgtqIAxVHrokEHb0MKUMQtKgLegQIFBAB&biw=2560&bih=1315&dpr=1) to me. > **[Romanos Are the Queen of Snap Beans and I Want to Eat Them All](https://www.bonappetit.com/story/romano-beans-alriiight)** > > These beans should have their own show and it should be called “Everybody Loves Romanos.” ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/3 "2024-09-23T21:44:04Z")
Pole beans. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/4 "2024-09-23T21:50:07Z")
Looked up Romano beans because I’d never heard of them. They are known as “Italian Pole Beans”. I dunno why I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/5 "2024-09-23T22:12:46Z")
Yep - they look like Romano beans to me. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/6 "2024-09-23T22:13:47Z")
They look like an Italian type snap bean to me. There are a lot of varieties of Italian beans. Romano is one of them – actually Romano is several of them, as there’s more than one strain of Romano, including both pole and bush versions. Some of them are pole beans, some of them are bush beans (and not all pole beans are Italian type or specifically Romano; neither are all bush beans for that matter.) They can get quite large and still be tender. They’re probably quite good – most of the Italian beans are. Cook them however you like to cook green beans. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/7 "2024-09-23T22:42:43Z")
Thanks y’all! The farm grows snow peas, green beans, a zillion varieties of peppers, eggplants and Japanese eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. I never stop without taking something home with me. These Romano Beans (TIL) have all sorts of uses. I bought a huge amount. I’m pickling some, slicing and adding raw to my tuna/mango ceviche, and air frying some as well just out of curiosity. Oh, and Rocco loves them raw. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/8 "2024-09-23T23:02:44Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The farm grows snow peas, green beans, a zillion varieties of peppers, eggplants and Japanese eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. No [yellow](https://turtletreeseed.org/product/golden-rocky-bean-seeds/), [purple](https://www.johnnyseeds.com/vegetables/beans/bush-beans/amethyst-bean-seed-3011.11.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BL%20%7C%20PMax%20%7C%20PRP%20%7C%20HPN%20-%20Smart%20Shopping%20%7C%20All%20Products&utm_keyword=&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-qjFsZXaiAMVRzMIBR0XKADhEAQYASABEgKLOPD_BwE), or [yellow-and-purple](https://www.highmowingseeds.com/organic-non-gmo-dragon-langerie-bush-bean.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImaO04ZXaiAMV9jUIBR240jWsEAQYBCABEgLQAPD_BwE#size=66) beans? Sounds like the sort of place that might have them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2024, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/9 "2024-09-23T23:10:56Z")
Yes, those also. Garlic, onions, and many apples. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/10 "2024-09-24T00:55:18Z")
Air fryer 380 for eight minutes after tossing about with a bit of oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper, freshly grated Parmesan cheese. [![](https://i.imgur.com/jKDbdMO.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/jKDbdMO.jpeg) With tuna/mango/jalapeño/gonger/lime ceviche served over mixed greens, brown rice, and sprouted mung beans. [![](https://i.imgur.com/iWhzKMT.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/iWhzKMT.jpeg) I’ve been sprouting mung beans recently and comments have been positive. (Girlfriend: “Mmmmmmmmm”) ETA: the sprouted mung bean looks like a puppy’s roundworm. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/11 "2024-09-24T00:57:58Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > They are known as “Italian Pole Beans”. I dunno why I laughed. I’m sitting here laughing over speculation about why you laughed. Speculation, mind you. In Rome they have, under glass and in a vacuum, an Official Italian Pole. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/12 "2024-09-24T01:27:18Z")
Huh-huh! Huh-huh! You said “pole”! Huh-huh! That wuz cool! [![](https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.hk8i_5ZiE8yLlp4BgJ-uwwAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain/) ](https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.hk8i_5ZiE8yLlp4BgJ-uwwAAAA?rs=1&pid=ImgDetMain/) ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/13 "2024-09-24T15:01:46Z")
They closely resemble what we in the UK call runner beans. I have loads growing in my raised bed as we speak (these aren’t them) ! [![](https://www.rhs.org.uk/getmedia/0d4902ff-7ba2-47b9-9637-2ca7d80070b5/Runner-beans-Phaseolus-coccineus-Liberty_WSYD0006493.jpg) ](https://www.rhs.org.uk/getmedia/0d4902ff-7ba2-47b9-9637-2ca7d80070b5/Runner-beans-Phaseolus-coccineus-Liberty_WSYD0006493.jpg) Picture of a banana for scale :- [![](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/gREqPpXUEQzsx6ZRzhhtRSnYz5A=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/20110721125011banana2.jpg) ](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/gREqPpXUEQzsx6ZRzhhtRSnYz5A=/1000x750/filters:no_upscale()/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer/20110721125011banana2.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/14 "2024-09-24T15:16:08Z")
Italian green beans! I ADORE these. They’re in the market now and I buy handfuls at a time. Steamed, sauteed with butter, garlic, salt and pepper they’re perfect on their own, but like any green bean, they can go cold into salad, or added to soup. Love my Italian green beans. A nice green vegetable side when one tires of broccoli. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/15 "2024-09-24T15:49:40Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > A nice green vegetable side when one tires of broccoli. They are delicious. Coincidentally, I’m making Beef&Broccoli tonight! I made the beans in my air fryer, but I want to try them in a Dom DeLuise recipe I’ve made that uses string beans in a thickened tomato sauce. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/16 "2024-09-24T16:05:25Z")
Yummy! They are so good! ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/17 "2024-09-24T16:10:33Z")
Runner beans, I have grown them many times, and always get overwhelmed with the crop. There’s a stringy bit either side of the length which you should peel off by running a potato peeler down the edge as it’s not very edible and gets stuck in your teeth. Otherwise just chop into squares or slice into thin lengths and use as you would any green bean. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/18 "2024-09-24T16:10:44Z")
Wait, how does showing a different picture of a banana demonstrate scale? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/19 "2024-09-24T16:12:35Z")
“Banana for scale” is a Reddit thing. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628/20 "2024-09-24T16:15:23Z")
Recipe, please? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-what-are-these-beans/1007628.md?page=2)