Discard moldy, spotted, or shriveled green beans. 

Place your fresh, trimmed green beans or frozen beans and 2 T of water in a microwave-safe glass dish with a lid.

Place dish in microwave and set timer for 3 minutes. 

Cook on high for 4 minutes. When timer goes off, stir green beans. Replace lid.

Cook for another minute or two. Carefully taste-test a green bean for desired tenderness.

If you like your beans very soft, keep adding cook time 1 minute at a time. Add another T of water if your beans are getting dry in the dish.

Carefully remove the dish from the microwave. Either drain the green beans in a colander in the sink, or use a slotted spoon.

Important: Don’t add your seasonings to green beans before draining the water. The water dilutes any flavor and you’ll want fat and herbs to stick to the beans.

 If you’re adding beans back to the same pan you cooked them in, remember to remove any cooking water left in the dish.

Season to taste and serve warm.