AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question Hi Carol,
I have been googling to discover if it is ok to eat broad bean skins but can't confirm it. By "skins" I mean the pods, but I am having some difficulty discerning whether the various websites means just the "skin" of the bean itself, as opposed to the skin of the pod.
Hence, it is ok to eat the skin of the pod of the fava (broad) bean? (ie. the pod!!)
Thanks very much if you can clarify that for me.
Best wishes ,
Mike.
When "skins" come up on various sites they say you can but it is phrased in such a way that I'm not sure if they are talking about the pods
Answer Hi Mike,
It is safe to eat the pod of the fava bean but you probably only want to do so with very young, small beans, cooking and eating just like green beans. Most people will remove the slightly hairy outer pod and downy inside as it is not exactly the best tasting part of the bean. Also, as the bean ages you'll want to remove the thin outer coat of the bean (the "skin on the bean"), as this part too is not as tasty.
So yes -- it is okay to eat the pod of the fava bean.
