How to Identify Bean Seeds

Beans are an important part of many recipes. They typically have high fiber content, can provide protein, and aren't fatty or salty. Beans are especially important in vegan and vegetarian diets, where they provide much-needed nutrition. Dried beans are lower in salt and preservatives and are a healthy alternative to canned beans. Since they've become so popular in the kitchen, beans are also increasingly popular in the garden, where they are relatively easy to grow. Whether you're cooking or planting, though, it's important to be able to identify the beans you have.

Instructions

- 1
  Observe the color of the beans. Most beans have distinct coloration. Beans generally come in green (lima beans, peas, green beans), yellow (garbanzo beans, mung beans), red (kidney beans, red beans), brown (pinto beans), and black (black beans). It's important to identify the beans ahead of time, because different beans need different conditions for growing and cooking.
- 2
  Observe the shape. Most beans are kidney-shaped (kidney beans, lima beans), roughly round (garbanzo beans, peas), or roughly oblong (pinto beans, black beans).
- 3
  Observe any markings on the beans. Lima beans, for example, have striations. Black-eyed peas are brown with black spots or "eyes."
- 4
  Combine the data from your observations to identify the bean. Kidney beans are dark red and kidney-shaped, for instance, while lima beans are green, kidney-shaped, and have light green stripes.

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