When you snap the ends off you can do it in such a way that you can pull the string along the bean. (I'm having a hard time putting this in writing, but I could show you in three seconds...) Does that make any sense?

If you do it properly, it goes snap - zzzip!

Soak in cold water. Snap off a bit of one end, and pull the string down the side.

Using your fingers, snap off the end that grew on the vine and pull down gently; you'll draw the string(s -- there are two but usually only one is developed enough to bother with) away from the pod. If the string tears, try this process from the other end. If you get the whole string in one go, snap the other end off anyway, you don't really want to eat it.

I grew some nice Blue Lakes, and have not noticed the strings.

With heirloom varieties, I understand it's more in an issue.

But then I can't be bothered with deveining shrimp, either, so maybe it's just me.

This was one of my standard jobs as a kid. It makes me nostalgic. We also had to do it at summer camp, a bushel at a time.

specklet and wolfdog... Yeah, you know I snap the ends off, but they come off clean. I tried to only snap part of it - like halfway through, but snap and off it went. maybe specklet should make a youtube tutorial on destringing string beans?

Hugh, that's really helpful. Yes, actually! I wondered if I was supposed to pulling from a particular end.

Dan, that's so, umm .. yummy. I had shrimp for dinner last night with my stringy string beans. The shrimp were precleaned and cooked in a honey jalepeno sauce. I had to detail them, but that's easier than destringing a string bean!

Miko miko miko. I love you, know that before I ask you in a very kidding manner- What's with all of the half answers lately? I am dying to know where your parent's "little house" is.

oh my bad - RAINBABY! HAAY!

What's with all of the half answers lately? am dying to know where your parent's "little house" is.

I'm not sure what that refers to? Happy to explain if you can clue me in, I'm sure. I'm a little spacey lately, a little irritable maybe, in transition, and just not up to the usual lengthy blatherings, I guess.

Oh, I was just being a smarty-pants... it was an askme over at Mefi about a guy who wanted to retire in the woods and you told him all about how your parents found this perfect little place that they got for a song, but you didn't even hint at what state they are in.


And I've been overthinking this particular plate of beans all night.... maybe when I snap the ends off I am snapping too hard and I should just be breaking the tip, but only like halfway and then pulling, but now I have no more beans to try this theory out on. However, never in my life have I ever been able to destring the bean, or destring celery for that matter.

I think it was taz that posted the answer you're talking about, goml.

oh fer shame, fer shame. I hang my head. and make the tsk tsk tsk sound... that's right. It all comes flooding back to me now. ARRRGH.

askme over at Mefi about a guy who wanted to retire in the woods and you told him all about how your parents found this perfect little place that they got for a song, but you didn't even hint at what state they are in.

ARe you sure that was me? Because that has never happened to my parents.

Yeah, it was Taz.

I know what comment I was thinking of.... I don't know how to link right to the comment so here it is:

"If someone can point me in the direction of how to, perhaps, better state my position in an argument in a clearly 'look, this is the way it is and here's why' way with, in some instances, even a certain amount of gravity to it, that would be much appreciated

You're going to want to start following Miko.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:32 PM on August 7 [33 favorites -] [!] "

What an awesome compliment you've been given!