Produce
Green beans
Green beans show a moderate detection rate but one of the higher shares of samples with residues approaching their benchmark, which is why they appear on annual watch lists more often than their overall index alone would suggest.
Organic upgrade priority
Consider organic
Score 29/100 · about $2.25 a week extra for a household of two
- →Conventional samples index 63/100 against 23/100 for organic — a 40-point difference.
- →At about 3 servings a week, the difference applies to a smaller share of what you eat.
- →Sample confidence is moderate, so the score is weighted down by 10%.
Key numbers
- Residue evidence
- 63/100
- Higher residue evidence
- Nutrient density
- 75/100
- Per calorie, across the whole database
- Typical price
- $2.99
- per lb · organic +50%
- Servings a week
- 3
- Per person, at typical purchase volume
- Samples
- 1,314
- Conventional, 2020–2022 · 93 organic
- Data confidence
- Moderate
- Set from sample size and year coverage
Organic vs conventional green beans
| Measure | Conventional | Organic |
|---|---|---|
| Samples analysed | 1,314 | 93 |
| Program years | 2020–2022 | 2020–2022 |
| Samples with any residue | 87% | 41% |
| Mean residues per sample | 3.2 | 0.7 |
| Samples above the EPA tolerance | 5.17% | 4.30% |
| Relative residue evidence index | 63/100 | 23/100 |
| Typical price | $2.99 / lb | $4.49 / lb |
Nutrition
Per 1 cup (100 g).
31
calories
1.8 g
protein
2.7 g
fiber
—
sugar
- Vitamin K 12% DV
- Vitamin C 13% DV
- Folate 8% DV
How to wash green beans
Rinse in a colander and snap the stem ends off after washing, not before — a cut end absorbs the rinse water.
Washing reduces surface residue and soil. It does not remove systemic compounds taken up into the plant, and no soap, vinegar, or commercial produce wash has been shown to beat 30 seconds of plain running water by a margin worth paying for. Full washing guide.
Buying and storing
- ◆Frozen green beans are picked and blanched within hours and beat out-of-season fresh on both price and texture.
- ◆Beans that squeak when you squeeze a handful are fresh. Limp pods have been in storage long enough to lose their sugar.
Common questions
›Should I buy organic green beans?
It is a reasonable upgrade when the budget allows, but not the first one to make. Green beans scores 29/100 on organic upgrade priority, with conventional samples at 63/100 against 23/100 organic. At about $2.25 extra a week, it competes with several higher-priority items.
›Are green beans high in pesticides?
Green beans shows higher residue evidence — an index of 63/100 relative to other commodities. Across 1,314 conventional samples from 2020–2022, 87% contained at least one detected residue, averaging 3.2 distinct compounds per sample, and 5.17% exceeded the applicable EPA tolerance. A detection is not the same as an unsafe level.
›How much more does organic green beans cost?
About 50% more at typical U.S. retail — $2.99 per lb conventional against $4.49 organic. For a household of 2 at normal purchase volume that is roughly $2.25 a week.
›How should I wash green beans?
Rinse in a colander and snap the stem ends off after washing, not before — a cut end absorbs the rinse water.
›What can I buy instead of green beans?
If the organic version is out of budget or the fresh price has spiked, Frozen mixed vegetables, Asparagus, Broccoli cover similar ground on this list. Each one is either lower on residue evidence, cheaper per serving, or both.
Related foods
Broccoli
$2.49 / lb · organic $3.69
Frozen mixed vegetables
$2.49 / 16 oz bag · organic $3.49
Asparagus
$4.49 / lb · organic $6.29
Spinach
$3.29 / 5 oz container · organic $4.49