Step 1

Wash the green beans. Trim off the stem portion.

Step 2

Either leave the beans whole, or cut them into halves or bite-size pieces. Your choice!

Step 3

In a clean jar or ferment vessel, place a small handful (few sprigs) of washed fresh dill in the bottom of the container. Add optional clove of garlic, pinch of peppercorns or chili flakes.

Step 4

Next, pack the green beans into the container until completely full. Stuff as many as you can close together, minimizing empty air space as you go.

Step 5

On the stovetop on low heat, combine the called-for salt and filtered water to create a salt water brine. Heat only until salt dissolves. Do not add hot brine to the green beans! Allow to cool to room temperature/lukewarm as needed.

Step 6

Pour the brine into the ferment vessel or jar until the green beans are fully submerged. Carefully tap and wiggle the jar side to side to release any trapped air pockets.

Step 7

Next put a Kraut Source lid, or other fermentation weight and air lock lid on top of the jar. Everything needs to stay submerged below the brine!

Step 8

Allow the green beans to sit at room temperature to ferment for Fahrenheit for 7 to 14 days. The ideal fermentation temperature is between 70 and 75 degrees.

Step 9

If you are using a Kraut Source lid, watch the air-lock water "moat" in the lid to ensure it doesn't dry up. Refill with water if needed. Also, carefully remove the top cap of the lid and press the spring down to remove more air halfway through fermentation. Keep the container on a plate to catch overflowing brine.

Step 10

When the time is up, remove air lock lid and weights, cover the container with a standard lid, and store the finished fermented green beans in the refrigerator.

Step 11

Enjoy the fermented dilly green beans for several months, or possibly up to a year. As long as they aren't moldy or obviously putrid, they're still good!