What are butter beans called in the US?
In the South and in the United Kingdom, they're typically referred to as butter beans. Elsewhere in the U.S., they're known as lima beans (named for Lima, Peru, the bean's point of origin). Store dried butter beans in an airtight, food-safe container and keep them in a cool, dry place. Use them within one year of purchase.
What are dried butter beans?
Mature, dried butter beans have a thicker, beige-colored skin that becomes tender when fully cooked. Dried butter beans are a dependable pantry staple that can be used in soups, stews, braises, casseroles, dips, spreads, and salads, just to name a few applications.
How many types of beans are there in Canada?
Types of Beans. 1 Bean Fact: Canada is fortunate in that it grows beans in excess of its needs and exports its surpluses around the world. In fact, 80-90% of the beans ... 2 White Pea Beans. 3 Black Turtle Beans. 4 Dark Kidney Beans. 5 Light Red Kidney Beans. More items
What is the difference between butter beans and butter beans?
There are some slight differences between these two varieties of butter beans. Some cooks use butter beans to add nutrients and fiber to stews. Butter beans are typically white or cream-colored, and are flat and slightly curved in shape. They typically measure between 0.25 and 1 inch (approximately 0.6 to 2.5 cm) in length.
What is a substitute for butter beans?
Due to their firm texture, garbanzo beans make the best substitute for butter beans where the dish requires them to be served whole, such as in stews or salads. Alternatively, garbanzo beans can be substituted when making any kind of bean dip.
What are butter beans also called?
Butter beans are also widely known as lima beans, named for the capital city of their country of origin, Peru. Lima beans are a common side dish in the cuisine of South America, often served with ceviche. “Butter bean” is far from the only moniker for lima beans.
Are butter beans and cannellini beans the same?
Difference between cannellini and butter beans The flat shape of butter beans is one obvious distinguishing feature between butter beans and cannellini beans. These two beans both have large size seeds, but the cannellini beans are larger in size compared to butter beans.
Are butter beans & lima beans the same?
“What's a good explanation,” the user asked, “for the difference between lima beans and butter beans?” They're two names for the same kind of bean! They can be used interchangeably whether frozen, dried, or canned.
Are butter beans the same as Great Northern beans?
Great Northern beans These beans are mild, delicate and slightly nutty in flavor, compared to the rich and buttery butter beans.
Are butter peas and butter beans the same thing?
Butter peas are pea-shaped, but have the smooth, buttery taste of butter beans.
Are white beans and butter beans the same thing?
Butter: Butter beans are the largest of the white bean family. Lima beans are the green immature version of this bean, but the mature dried version tastes completely different. It has a creamy, rich flavor. Butter beans are sold in many grocery stores dried and canned.
Can I substitute chickpeas for butter beans?
This is probably why they're also called butter beans in several parts of the world. They have a slightly sweet and nutty flavor and can be used to replace chickpeas in stews, chilis, casseroles, and other slow-cooked recipes.
Can I substitute haricot beans for butter beans?
However you could use other beans and canned haricot beans would be a good alternative. In the US these are usually known as navy beans. The US have a similar white bean called the great northern bean and this could also be used. In the UK the other possibility is canned butter beans which are widely available.
Are fava beans the same as butter beans?
Growing Fava Beans These annual legumes are also known as butter beans.
Are butter beans the same as navy beans?
Lima beans, also known as Butter Beans. Great northern, also called "large white" beans, are larger than navy beans as well, but smaller than cannellini beans. They have a flattened shape similar to lima beans and a delicate flavor.
What does a butter bean look like?
Butter beans are typically white or cream-colored, and are flat and slightly curved in shape. They typically measure between 0.25 and 1 inch (approximately 0.6 to 2.5 cm) in length.
When do butter beans grow?
Fresh butter beans typically reach their harvest peak in the late summer months. Gardeners usually plant them just after the last frost of the year, as they are quite sensitive to cold soil. The plants must usually be staked, as most will climb; they will usually produce seed pods by early spring, and will develop into fully grown beans by mid to late summer. The seed pods are often reserved for the next season’s growing, though seeds are available from many nurseries and commercial garden supply centers, as well.
What are the characteristics of butter beans?
Some cooks use butter beans to add nutrients and fiber to stews. Butter beans are typically white or cream colored, and are flat and slightly curved in shape. They typically measure between 0.25 and 1 inch (approximately 0.6 to 2.5 cm) in length.
What color are beans?
Some varieties are speckled with brown or deep purple spots, though most of the time these color aberrations are limited to home-grown varieties — the vast majority of commercially-available beans are uniformly cream colored. There are two theories for how the beans earned their colloquial name. The first relates to their color; most are ...
Is butter bean a vegetable?
Tricia Christensen. Butter beans are a seed but are also considered a vegetable. ”Butter beans” are the common name for Phaseolus lunatus, a legume considered by many to be a vegetable. They are often compared to the more common lima bean, and the two share many similarities — but most horticulturists argue that they are not, in fact the same, ...
Is lima bean the same as lima bean?
They are often compared to the more common lima bean, and the two share many similarities — but most horticulturists argue that they are not, in fact the same, despite their similar biological traits. They are very common in the cooking traditions of the American South, and also feature in many Mediterranean dishes.
Is slathering beans in butter good for you?
Of course, these positive nutritive benefits can be overshadowed by the method of preparation — slathering the beans in butter or thick sauces can make for some highly caloric dishes. Tricia Christensen.
Can you eat lima beans?
Lima beans can be consumed in both their immature stage (fresh and green) as well as their mature (dried and beige). Americans tend to eat them in the immature stage mostly, but if you aren’t a lima lover, you might want to try them cooked from the dry stage, rather than the fresh.
Is lima the same as butter beans?
Lima beans are more than just related to butter beans, they are the same thing! In the South, lima beans are often called butter beans and in the UK they almost exclusively refer to them as butter beans. It seems like a lot of people don’t like lima beans.
Where did the Adzuki bean come from?
The adzuki bean has been grown and used for many centuries in Asian countries and was introduced to Japan from China about 1,000 years ago. Its principal use is as a confectionery item.
How many types of dry beans are there in the world?
It is estimated that there are well over 400 different types or varieties of dry beans grown throughout the world.
What are kidney beans?
White Kidney Beans. Also known as cannellini or alubia beans, they are white or cream-coloured. When puréed, they are similar to creamy mashed potatoes and make a perfect low-fat base for dips and spreads. Grown in: Ontario and Manitoba.
What are the best beans to use in chili?
Cranberry Beans. Known as romano or speckled sugar, cranberry beans are very popular in Italian cuisine, and have the highest folate count of all beans. They are also great beans to use in chili. Grown in: Ontario and Manitoba.
Where are white pea beans grown?
White Pea Beans. Also known as navy beans, white beans are the most popular edible bean crop grown in Ontario and are often used in soups, salads and baked bean dishes. Most of these are exported to the United Kingdom for baked beans. The rest are sold domestically.
Where are black turtle beans grown?
Ontario black beans mainly head to Mexico. Grown in: Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta.
Is Canada a good country for growing beans?
Bean Fact: Canada is fortunate in that it grows beans in excess of its needs and exports its surpluses around the world. In fact, 80-90% of the beans grown in Ontario are exported. Almost every region of the world that grows beans has different specific local names, but most of these dry beans are members of the scientific classification Phaseolus ...
What are Jalpur beans used for?
Jalpur branded. Butter beans are widely used around the world. For the best dish you can make Italian soup. These large beans can be used in curries, soups and stews. *Please not Best Before/Expiration UK is DD/MM/YYYY. › See more product details.
Can you use Lima beans in soup?
Butter beans or 'Lima beans' are widely used in soups and stews, however you can make curries from it too. For the best dish you can choose to make Italian soup. **Allergen Advice** (Jalpur products are packed and produced in a mill that handles wheat, gluten, nuts, peanuts, mustard, sesame and soya)-All products will be shipped from the UK
What are butter beans called?
Lima beans and butter beans add a protein-packing punch to soups, stews and even summer salads. Although slightly bland in taste, there is nothing unremarkable about the beans’ linguistic impact. This humble legume is not only called lima or butter bean depending on the region, but also assumes a slew of other identities.
What is the difference between a lima bean and a butter bean?
Crucially, the only difference between the lima bean and the butter bean is in name. In the American South, as well as in the U.K., they are most commonly referred to as butter beans rather than lima beans.
What is a lima bean?
In the culinary domain, where the distinction between varieties is potentially crucial, lima beans typically refer to the small, green variety. Alternatively, the large, white and slightly creamy bean often is considered a butter bean.
How long do dried lima beans last in the refrigerator?
Once cooked, lima beans perish quickly, typically after just a day in the refrigerator. However, dried beans will keep in an airtight container for six months. 00:00. 00:00 00:00 LIVE.
Where do lima beans come from?
Lima beans take their name after the capital of Peru, a country in which they have been cultivated for more than 7,000 years. They were introduced to the U.S. in the 19th century, with the majority now grown in California. They range from pale green to beige, with a flat kidney shape, and come in two main varieties: baby lima and Fordhook.
How long to cook lima beans in pressure cooker?
Boil them first for 10 minutes, uncovered to allow the gas to escape, and drain the water. Dried lima beans normally take about 45 minutes of simmering and dried Fordhooks an hour. Both types produce a lot of foam, but neither are suitable for a pressure cooker as they will disintegrate.
What is a butter bean?
Butter beans are a kind of runner bean. Runner beans grow like a vine. Butter beans have the scientific name Phaseolus lunatus, and originated in South America. Butter beans have a color that is similar to butter – they are white to light yellow.
What are some similar beans to butter beans?
Although, they aren’t close in appearance and taste the following legumes are similar enough that they will work in a recipe that calls for butter beans: Red beans. Mung beans.
What is the scientific name for cannellini beans?
Cannellini beans have the scientific name Phaseolus vulgaris, which is different to Butter beans which have the scientific name Phaseolus lunatus. Phaseolus is the Genus which is the scientific name for wild beans. And vulgaris, and lunatus are the species of beans.
What is the difference between cannellini beans and butter beans?
On the other hand the pods of Butter beans are long and thin. Both beans look roughly the same. Butter beans in appearance are flatter and slightly bigger, compared to Cannellini beans which have the shape of kidney beans.
What does cannellini taste like?
How these beans taste. Cannellini beans are a white variety of kidney beans, and they do taste much quite similar to kidney beans. Kidney beans and have a rich, aromatic, and wholesome taste. Butter beans on the other hand taste quite velvety and have an almost buttery taste. Go to top.
What are the different types of beans?
But, the plants they grow are different and they are scientifically classified as different. Butter beans are also called lima beans, sieva beans, double beans, and Madagascar beans. And Cannellini beans are the white version of the popular kidney beans.
What color are pinto beans?
Pinto beans are speckled and are smaller and rounder than butter beans. Butter beans and completely white to light yellow in color, and are quite flat and wide. They can be used in the same recipes, for example soups, or to fill pasta.

Basic Characteristics
Relationship to Lima Beans
- Butter beans are genetically very similar to lima beans, and there is some dispute when it comes to whether or not they are actually a variety of lima bean. Most limas are slightly larger with a green tint, though they are known to come smaller; sometimes, they are even white. Horticulturists typically agree that lima beans were originally cultivat...
Avoid Eating Raw Butter Beans
- Wherever the beans originate from, don't eat raw butter beans. Raw butter beans can pose a threat to anyone who consumes them. Raw butter beans and lima beans contain a compound called linamarin. This compound turns into cyanide when consumed. This is part of the plant’s defense system, and the amount depends on where the plants are grown. Whatever the linamari…
Culinary Uses and Popularity
- Butter beans are very commonly used in the cuisine of the American South. They are often boiled and served alone as a side dish, usually seasoned with little more than salt and pepper and a bit of butter. They also feature heavily in casseroles and bean pie dishes. Some cooks will also add them to corn bread, soups, stews, and chilis.
How to Cook Butter Beans
- There are many butter bean varieties to choose from, so it’s important to note the distinctions between cooking styles for each type of butter bean. As stated above, cooks can opt for a simple side dish or cooks can include the beans in casseroles, soups, or stews. However you intend to use butter beans, avoid butter bean mush when you prepare butter beans according to the type …
Availability and Growing Season
- Fresh butter beans typically reach their harvest peak in the late summer months. Gardeners usually plant them just after the last frost of the year, as they are quite sensitive to cold soil. The plants must usually be staked, as most will climb; they will usually produce seed pods by early spring and will develop into fully grown beans by mid to late summer. The seed pods are often r…
Nutritional Value
- Butter beans are generally considered quite healthful. They are high in vitamin C, vitamin A, and thiamin; they are also a good source of protein and are very low in calories and fat. Of course, these positive nutritive benefits can be overshadowed by the method of preparation — slathering the beans in butter or thick sauces can make for some highly caloric dishes.