8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (2024)

Find out how the string bean and soup combo came to be.

8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (1)By Hannah Doolin
8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (2)8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (3)

Aside from the typical turkey, families across the country supplement their Thanksgiving dinner with all sorts of different sides—some of them wacky salads and casseroles that would definitely make people in other regions raise an eyebrow. Green bean casserole, however, has managed to become mainstream since it's introduction to Americans back in the 50s. Find out how one of the stranger Thanksgiving sides made its way to the holiday table.

1. It was invented over 60 years ago.

A woman named Dorcas Reilly developed the famous casserole while working as a recipe supervisor in Camden, NJ back in 1955.

8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (4)8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (5)

2. It all started with soup.

Reilly was working in the home economics kitchen at the Campbell Soup Company, testing recipes for a feature in the Associated Press when she came up with the idea, which features Campbell's Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup as the binding agent.

3. The casserole requires just six ingredients.

Fans love the dish in part because of how simple it is to throw together. It calls for ingredients that could be found in a typical home kitchen pantry: canned or fresh green beans, mushroom soup, milk, soy sauce and black pepper.

4. Millions of American families serve it over the holidays.

According to Today, green bean casserole can be found on dinner tables in 30 million households across the country during the holiday season.

5. The original recipe is in a museum.

Dorcas Reilly's original recipe for "Green Bean Bake," written on a recipe card, now belongs to National Inventor's Hall of Fame in Akron, OH—the same building where Thomas Edison's light bulb is on display.

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6. The topping is the best part.

Though the original recipes used to include celery salt and ham and there have been countless variations over the years, there's one ingredient that's never changed: French fried onions. Campbell's official recipe calls for the French's brand, but no matter which type is used, you can never really add too many.

8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (10)8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (11)

7. It seriously boosts soup sales.

Of the approximately $20 million worth of cream of mushroom soup sold in the U.S. annually, green bean casserole is said to account for 40% of sales. Guess there just isn't much that can replace the thick, creamy base that Campbell's achieves!

8. There are tons of ways to class it up.

Plenty of people think that the 50s recipe is perfect just the way it is, but there are plenty of variations to try if the original gets old. We're partial to one of our green bean recipes that uses the mushroom soup as a dipping sauce for the crispy beans.

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8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole (2024)

FAQs

8 Things You Should Know Before Eating Green Bean Casserole? ›

Arguably best made with canned green beans, a green bean casserole and other cooked casseroles will last four days in the fridge. Like with mashed potatoes, cooked casseroles are safe to eat out of the freezer, although quality will suffer, according to a food safety specialist at the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.

How long is it safe to eat green bean casserole? ›

Arguably best made with canned green beans, a green bean casserole and other cooked casseroles will last four days in the fridge. Like with mashed potatoes, cooked casseroles are safe to eat out of the freezer, although quality will suffer, according to a food safety specialist at the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline.

When you eat the green bean What are you eating? ›

They are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamins (such as vitamin C and vitamin K), and minerals (such as potassium and folate). When you eat a green bean, you are actually consuming the immature fruit or seed pod of the common bean plant. The pod is the edible part, while the seeds inside are also consumed.

Why is green bean casserole so good? ›

Green bean casserole was considered a perfect dish for holiday entertaining because it was simple, inexpensive, and could easily be made ahead of time. It became known as a "jiffy casserole" because it went from one bowl to one pan.

What nutrition is in green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casserole
  • Calories 191.
  • Total Fat 10g 13%
  • Saturated Fat 1.9g 10%
  • Trans Fat 0.1g.
  • Polyunsaturated Fat 5.2g.
  • Monounsaturated Fat 2.2g.
  • Cholesterol 1.1mg 0%
  • Sodium 932mg 41%

Can you overcook green bean casserole? ›

Overcooking the beans won't just drain them of their appealing color, but it will also make them too soft and mushy, resulting in a less appetizing casserole.

Can you eat green bean casserole left out overnight? ›

According to the USDA, food that has been left out of the fridge for more than two hours should be thrown away. That's because between 40° F and 140° F (what the USDA calls the "Danger Zone"), bacteria grows incredibly fast and can make you sick.

What are the symptoms of green bean poisoning? ›

As few as four or five raw beans can trigger symptoms. Onset time: Usually begins with extreme nausea and vomiting within 1 to 3 hours after ingestion of the product, with diarrhoea developing later within that timeframe.

How to tell if green beans are okay to eat? ›

Fresh green beans in good condition will feel firm and should snap apart when bent. Older green beans that feel limp and have started to develop a slimy texture are no longer safe to eat. If you see any fuzzy mold on them, they are definitely too bad to eat.

What do green beans do to your body? ›

The vegetable helps fight inflammation and is a good source of folate and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. Green beans also are a good source of protein and fiber, which helps lower cholesterol, Vadiveloo said. "Fiber is underconsumed by U.S. adults and children, and it's good for gut health," she said.

How do you keep green bean casserole from getting mushy? ›

Green Bean Casserole Tips

Don't overcook the green beans: Remember when you are blanching the green beans that they will continue to cook and soften while baking in the oven with the rest of the casserole. So it's important to undercook them slightly during this first step so that they don't get mushy in the oven.

Why is my green bean casserole so soupy? ›

The Casserole Is Too Soupy

If you used frozen green beans, but didn't fully defrost and drain them prior to adding them to the casserole, that mistake will surely account for the excess water you're now experiencing.

Does green bean casserole make you gassy? ›

However, too much fiber can cause bloating and gas. "Beans are high in fiber, with half a cup providing between 4 and 8 grams," says Kunik. "Since your body can't digest fiber, it can sit in the digestive tract while the bacteria digest it, producing gas as a byproduct.

How many days can you eat green bean casserole? ›

Green Bean Casserole Leftovers

Your creamy green bean casserole will last about four days in the fridge. The crunchy topping will get softer as time goes by; pop it into the oven to reheat to crisp it up a bit. While casseroles have a reputation for being freezer-friendly, green bean casseroles don't freeze so well.

Why do Americans eat green bean casserole? ›

Popularity. It was originally marketed as an everyday side dish but became popular for Thanksgiving dinners in the 1960s after Campbell's placed the recipe on the can's label. The recipe popularized the combination of the soup with green beans.

Is green bean casserole good for GERD? ›

Green bean casserole is a Thanksgiving essential and should have its place on the table. However, typical green bean casserole recipes may cause acid reflux (heartburn), abdominal pain, nausea, or vomiting for individuals with GERD.

Can you eat cooked green beans after 5 days? ›

Your cooked beans last about 3 to 5 days in the fridge. To store them, let the beans cool down after cooking, then pop them in the refrigerator within an hour.

How long does homemade green bean casserole last in the fridge? ›

Refrigerate up to 2 days. Reheating: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour before you'd like to finish them in the oven. Remove the foil & plastic wrap. Stir ½ cup of the French fried onions into the green bean mixture, then tightly recover the baking dish with foil.

How many days can you eat leftover casserole? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away.

How long can you keep vegetable casserole in the fridge? ›

Cold Food Storage Chart
FoodTypeRefrigerator [40°F (4°C) or below]
Soups and stewsVegetable or meat added3 to 4 days
LeftoversCooked meat or poultry3 to 4 days
Chicken nuggets or patties3 to 4 days
Pizza3 to 4 days
49 more rows
Sep 19, 2023

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