Green beans are the unripe, young fruit of various cultivars of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris).They are distinguished from the many other varieties of beans in that green beans are harvested and consumed with their enclosing pods, before the bean seeds inside have fully matured.

Whether you blanch them, sauté them, or eat them straight from a can, green beans are a nutritious addition to your diet.Green beans are known by many common names, including French beans, string beans,snap beans, snaps and the French name haricot vert.