Birds eye green beans, also known as snap beans, are a variety of common green beans that are picked and processed at an immature stage. This results in a crisp, sweet bean that maintains its shape and texture even after cooking. But where exactly do these popular canned and frozen beans come from?
Origin of Birds Eye Green Beans
Birds eye green beans get their name from the Birds Eye Frozen Foods company, which popularized them in the 1940s. However, snap beans have been grown and eaten for centuries before then.
Green beans are native to the Americas and were a part of indigenous diets well before European colonization. The oldest known domestication of common beans, including green beans, was in Peru and Bolivia around 7,000 years ago. From South America, beans spread throughout the Americas and were brought to Europe in the 15th century after Spanish colonization.
Snap beans were likely first cultivated in the United States in the 18th century. They gained the name “snap beans” because of the snapping sound the raw beans make when broken in half. While green beans were traditionally eaten fresh, advancements in food processing and preservation in the 20th century allowed for large-scale production of frozen and canned green beans.
Birds Eye Company History
The company that popularized birds eye green beans was founded in 1923 by sea captain Clarence Birdseye. While living in Newfoundland, Birdseye observed the flash freezing food preservation techniques of Inuit peoples. He recognized frozen foods could maintain flavor and texture better than canned goods.
After returning to the United States, Birdseye spent several years developing fast freezing technology and founded General Seafoods Company in 1924. In 1929, his company became Birds Eye Frosted Foods and launched its first successful product, frozen fish fillets.
Birds Eye began selling packaged frozen fruits and vegetables in 1930. Green beans were one of the first frozen vegetables introduced by the company. Their process of flash freezing snap beans allowed them to maintain a crisp “snap” even when thawed. Birds eye green beans quickly became a popular frozen vegetable across the United States.
Green Bean Farming Today
While Birds Eye brands popularized frozen snap beans, fresh green beans have remained a widely consumed vegetable. Green beans are now grown across the world in temperate and tropical regions. Top producing countries include China, Indonesia, Romania, France and the United States.
In the U.S., over 1.4 million tons of snap beans were produced in 2020 alone. Major green bean farming states include Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Oregon. Most snap bean varieties harvested today are bred for disease resistance, since beans are susceptible to fungus and viruses.
Green beans are a warm season crop, typically direct sown in spring and maturing 50-60 days later. They need well-drained soil and consistent moisture for best growth and yield. Green beans are harvested while pods are young and seeds immature, when the bean’s walls are still tender.
Commercial snap bean farming involves mechanical harvesting when a majority of pods reach optimal size and maturity. For fresh market beans, multiple harvests are done by hand to ensure quality. Beans for processing are harvested mechanically in fewer passes.
Processing Green Beans
For birds eye frozen green beans and canned green beans, the following steps are involved after harvest:
- Washing – beans are washed in water to remove debris
- Sorting – any substandard or blemished beans are removed
- Snipping – tip of the bean opposite the stem is removed
- Blanching – beans are briefly cooked in hot water or steam to inactivate enzymes
- Cooling – beans are cooled after blanching to stop cooking
- Processing – beans are canned or flash frozen
Blanching before preservation helps green beans better maintain color, texture, and flavor. Frozen snap beans are packaged directly after cooling. Canned beans are packed in liquid, sealed in cans, and heat sterilized before labeling and storage.
Frozen vs. Canned Green Beans
While most people associate birds eye beans with frozen vegetables, canned green beans have remained popular as well. Here’s a comparison of frozen and canned green beans:
| Frozen Green Beans | Canned Green Beans | |
|---|---|---|
| Processing | Flash frozen quickly after harvesting | Cooked briefly then sealed in cans |
| Texture | Crisp, maintains fresh snap | More soft, can be mushy |
| Flavor | Sweeter, resembles just-picked bean | Can have a tinny or metallic taste from can |
| Convenience | Requires thawing before use | Ready to eat from can |
| Storage Life | 1 year frozen | 2 – 5 years shelf-stable |
| Nutrients | Higher vitamin C content | Some vitamins degrade during canning process |
Both frozen and canned beans have a place in home kitchens and offer convenience compared to fresh. Canned beans have a longer shelf life at room temperature, while frozen beans may be closer in texture and flavor to just-cooked fresh snap beans.
Birds Eye Green Bean Varieties
Today, Birds Eye offers a number of different green bean products:
Regular Green Beans
Their regular green beans come whole or cut in a variety of sizes: regular cut, French-style or sliced. These are harvested at peak ripeness and flash frozen to maintain a crisp texture.
Italian Green Beans
Their Italian style green beans are thinner beans harvested young when around 3-4 inches long. They have a very tender snap and more delicate flavor.
Organic Green Beans
Birds Eye also offers an organic line of whole and cut green beans grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
Flavored Green Beans
Some of their green bean products have spices, sauce or other flavorings, like garlic butter beans or ranch-seasoned green bean fries.
Green Bean Blends
Mixed vegetable bags may combine green beans with potatoes, carrots, corn and other vegetables to use in stir fries or as side dishes.
Nutrition of Green Beans
Green beans are low in calories and high in fiber, vitamins C, K, folate, and manganese. One cup (125g) of raw green beans contains:
- Calories: 35
- Fiber: 3.4g
- Vitamin C: 14mg (17% DV)
- Vitamin K: 38.3mcg (32% DV)
- Folate: 42.3mcg (11% DV)
- Manganese: 0.2mg (10% DV)
Blanching and freezing green beans results in a loss of some water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and folate. Frozen green beans retain more nutrients than canned products which degrade more over time. But both frozen and canned beans can contribute vitamins, minerals and fiber to one’s diet.
Uses for Green Beans
Birds eye green beans can be prepared in many classic and creative recipes, including:
Side Dishes
- Sauteed green beans
- Green beans almandine
- Garlic parmesan baked beans
- Beans with bacon and onion
Casseroles and Bakes
- Green bean casserole
- Bean and mushroom gratin
- Green bean bake
- Scalloped beans
Salads
- Three bean salad
- Green bean salad
- Roasted bean and potato salad
- Snap bean slaw
Soups and Stews
- Minestrone with green beans
- Green bean and ham soup
- White bean chicken stew with green beans
- Pasta fagioli
Adding green beans boosts the nutrition, color and texture of many savory dishes. Their mild flavor pairs well with seasonings and ingredients like garlic, olive oil, bacon, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, basil, Parmesan, ham and nuts.
Where to Buy Birds Eye Green Beans
Birds eye frozen and canned green beans can be found at most major grocery stores year-round. Look for their products in the frozen vegetable section and canned vegetable aisle. Generic store brands may also sell similar frozen or canned snap beans.
When shopping, inspect packaging for any damage and check the sell-by date or best before date. Frozen beans should be frozen solid with no freezer burn or ice crystals. Canned beans should have tightly sealed, undamaged cans with no signs of spoilage.
Store unopened frozen green beans at 0°F or below, and canned beans in a cool, dry place below 85°F. Once opened, frozen beans can be resealed in their bag and kept for 6-12 months if maintained at 0°F. Opened canned beans need to be transferred to a sealed container and refrigerated, lasting around 4-5 days.
Conclusion
Birds eye green beans have their origins in traditional snap bean farming, indigenous American foodways, and innovations in commercial food freezing in the early 20th century. Their popularity stemmed from Birds Eye Frozen Foods, but green beans have remained a beloved vegetable for their crisp, sweet taste and nutritional value.
Snap beans available frozen or canned offer convenience while still providing the characteristic texture and flavor of fresh green beans. Look for birds eye brand or similar products in the freezer or canned vegetable aisle to enjoy green beans year-round.
