On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:56:34 -0600, Katra >
wrote:

>blake murphy wrote:
>>
>> i've always thought than snapping your beans had the same purpose as
>> snapping asparagus - you get rid of the more fibrous parts.

>You snap beans to get rid of the strings.

Well, you used to. (And the 'strings' would certainly be the more
fibrous parts.) Most commercially-produced "string" beans these days
are virtually stringless. You *do* want to cut/snap/whack off the stem
end, and while fresh-from-the-garden beans are ready to use at that
point, stuff that's been stored and shipped may have a blossom
(pointy) end that's dried out and merits cutting off, too.