are butter beans same as lima beans
The butter bean is a cruel, though theoretically more acceptable, attempt to lure you into eating (broad) lima beans which are an abomination. pierino is a trusted source on General Cooking and Tough Love. Relationship to Lima Beans. Butter beans are genetically very similar to lima beans, and there is some dispute when it comes to whether or not they are actually a variety of lima bean. Most limas are slightly larger with a green tint, though they are known to come smaller; sometimes, they are even white. Favas are larger than the typical lima and typical butter bean and are a different color when dried and /or cooked so have a very different flavor too. IME limas remain green when cooked, butter beans tend to turn pale yellow and favas go tan to brown. Google images has pics of them side by side for comparison. ”Butter beans” are the common name for Phaseolus lunatus, a legume considered by many to be a vegetable. They are often compared to the more common lima bean, and the two share many similarities — but most horticulturists argue that they are not, in fact the same, despite their similar biological traits. Quick Answer. ”Butter bean” is a term that some use for particular types of lima beans; the only difference is in regional terminology. The lima bean is a domesticated legume with the scientific name of Phaseolus lunatus that gets its name from its place of origin, Lima, Peru. Keep Learning. Quick Answer. Although both lima beans and butter beans come from the same genus, they are actually two different types of beans. The smaller version is known as baby lima beans, while the larger versions of lima beans are what many people know to be butter beans. Continue Reading. Crucially, the only difference between the lima bean and the butter bean is in name. In the American South, as well as in the U.K., they are most commonly referred to as butter beans rather than lima beans. In the south, butter beans are yellow-to-white and lima beans are green, no matter whether they are fresh, canned or dried. Typically, butter beans are larger in size and make a thicker, richer pot likker than their green brothers and have a less green, more buttery taste. I have never eaten a green butter bean so can't compare the flavours. Favas grow in cool weather so I would have thought they would be a useful crop for fresh eating when limas can't grow. I can't grow butter or lima beans in my climate. They are the same bean. But I've found the 'butter beans' labeled as such are typically the larger beans with a some what more mealy texture. Same bean just labels. IMHO my preferred choice are the ones labeled as baby limas.
Yes, butter beans are genetically very similar to lima beans.