What is the difference between regular green beans and French beans, also labelled as Haricot verts?
📋 What's New In This Post (3/31/25) - Added new seasoning idea for French beans and tips on how to shop for the best French beans.
The Search for the Thin Bean
My wife doesn't like green beans that are too beany. I don't mind them myself as long as they are tender. By too beany, I mean that the beans which are the seeds have started to form within the pods.
Therefore I always keep an eye out for green beans that are not too beany. Discovering beans labelled as French beans or haricot verts has me be more successful cooking green beans as a side dish that my wife my loves.
I have found Haricot verts in many different places - farmer's markets, Costco, Trader Joe's, and even from my own garden.
I want to share with you the advantages that I have found from cooking these type of beans over the "regular green beans".
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🇫🇷 What are French Beans?
Haricot vert literally means 'green bean' in French.
French Beans are often given that name at the store. Whether you see either name this means you are getting a thin fresh green bean. A lot thinner than "regular" green beans.
This is really the only significant difference between the two, but not the only difference.
❓ How are French Beans Different?
A thinner bean is going to cook quicker than a thicker bean. Besides that the reason people like then is that they are morn tender.
What about flavor? Here is the interesting thing. Here in the United States a lot of the green beans you are buying in the store were grown here. But many of the French beans are grown in Guatemala and Mexico. Thus by the time they reach our stores, they are older. I find that they aren't as sweet tasting. For flavor, in most cases I believe that regular green beans are going to taste better.
If you can buy French green beans at a farmer's market or grown them yourself - DO IT! These will be far superior in flavor to anything you find in a grocery store.
Another thing you will find in grocery stores is that French beans are sold only by the bag. You rarely ever find them sold by the pound. The prices is always higher for the French beans as well, so you aren't doing this to save money.
🔎 How to Pick Out the Best Beans
One thing I must caution you about is to thoroughly inspect the bag before purchasing any French beans. Just because the label says so doesn’t mean it’s exactly what you’re looking for. Like all green beans, regardless of type, the seeds inside will eventually start to sprout. These beans will ultimately become the seeds for new plants.
I've bought French beans from Costco many times, but there was one occasion when I grabbed a bag without giving it a close look. When we got home, we realized that while the beans were smaller than regular green beans, they were too bean-like. It turned out these French beans had been left on the plants for too long and weren't as tender as they should have been.
You can also look at the color of the bean pod to help determine if they were picked at the right time. As beans mature on the plant and start to grow seeds inside, the pods will become a lighter green, less vivid in color. Eventually, the pods turn brown and dry out with the beans inside. Always look for that vibrant green color
🍽️ What are French Beans Good For?
You can interchange green beans and French beans really in any recipe. But there are some types of recipes where French beans shine.
- Sautéed with onions, shallots, and/or garlic
- Air Fryer crispy beans
- In a quiche
- In a salad
They are easier for sautéing than regular green beans because they are thin. Use that their thinner size and tenderness to your advantage! Here is what I like to do:
- Melt some Kerrygold butter in a pan
- Add the French beans and cook over medium heat. Turn the heat down if the butter starts smoking.
- Once the beans are tender, sprinkle on some Burlap & Barrel Purple shallot powder.
Oh my goodness is that easy and incredibly delicious. Just using those two ingredients along with your favorite salt - oh my goodness, so tasty with such little effort.
✂️ French Cut Green Beans
Now if you see a package labelled "French Cut" green beans that is something completely different. It refers to a style of cutting beans, thinly or julienne. You will find these beans in the frozen section of your grocery store. I personally am not a fan. I have never had any that I thought were cooked right. Too soft.
While not that common, you can find frozen French beans that are legit haricot verts. Trader Joe's has had them in the past, so that is the place I would look first if that is something you are looking for.
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