Safety classification
Tested
Testing authority: National Center for Home Food Preservation (University of Georgia / USDA-derived guidance)
Safety reviewed: 09/09/2026
Processing details
Altitude adjustment: Dial gauge: 11 psi at 0–2,000 ft; 12 psi at 2,001–4,000 ft; 13 psi at 4,001–6,000 ft; 14 psi at 6,001–8,000 ft. Weighted gauge: 10 psi at 0–1,000 ft; 15 psi above 1,000 ft.
Source & provenance
Safety classification: Tested recipe from NCHFP.
Fresh shelled lima beans canning safety
| Method | Pressure |
|---|---|
| Pack | Hot or raw pack |
| Jar sizes | Pint or quart |
| Headspace | Varies by bean size and jar; follow the recipe card |
| Quantity | About 18 lb in pods per 9 pints or 28 lb per 7 quarts |
Safety boundary: Headspace varies with bean size and jar size; do not compress raw beans or substitute a single generic headspace.
Processing details
- Method
- Pressure
- Pack style
- Either
- Jar sizes
- Pint or Quart Jars
- Headspace
- 1 to 1 1/2 inches depending on bean and jar size
- Processing time
- Pints: 40 min; Quarts: 50 min
Tested recipe source: National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP)
Fresh shelled lima beans timeline
- Prepare: Shell, wash, and sort fresh lima beans by size.
- Pack: Use the complete hot or raw pack and the source-specific fill and headspace for small or large beans.
- Process: Pressure-can pints 40 minutes or quarts 50 minutes.
Equipment for fresh shelled lima beans
Affiliate disclosure: Equipment links may earn a commission at no added cost; safety guidance is independent.
- Pressure canner with rack and tested dial or weighted gauge
- Pint or quart Mason jars with two-piece lids
- Large pot,
canning funnel, jar lifter, headspace tool, and bubble remover
Visual method guide
- Shell and wash fresh lima beans.
- Identify whether beans are small or large.
- Choose the complete hot or raw pack.
- Apply the bean-size and jar-specific headspace from the recipe card.
The official source and WPRM recipe card remain authoritative.
Safety essentials
Tested NCHFP pressure-canning recipe with hot- and raw-pack options. Headspace varies by bean size and jar size and must follow the source schedule.
What is fresh shelled lima beans?
This tested process pressure cans fresh shelled lima beans with pack and headspace details that differ for small and large beans.
Before you begin
- Classify beans by the source’s small or large categories.
- Follow the exact headspace for that bean and jar size.
- Salt is optional.
Altitude-adjusted pressure schedule
| Jar/style | Time | 0–2,000 ft | 2,001–4,000 ft | 4,001–6,000 ft | 6,001–8,000 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pints | 40 min | 11 psi | 12 psi | 13 psi | 14 psi |
| Quarts | 50 min | 11 psi | 12 psi | 13 psi | 14 psi |
| Jar/style | Time | 0–1,000 ft | Above 1,000 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pints | 40 min | 10 psi | 15 psi |
| Quarts | 50 min | 10 psi | 15 psi |
Beans, Fresh Lima — Shelled — NCHFP
Ingredients
- 28 lb fresh lima beans in pods average for 7 quarts; 18 lb for 9 pints
- 1 tsp salt optional per quart
- boiling water for packing
Equipment
- 1 Pressure canner Dial- or weighted-gauge pressure canner appropriate for altitude.
- 7–9 Canning jars Pints or quarts.
- 7–9 Two-piece canning lids Use new flat lids and prepare according to manufacturer directions.
Directions
- Shell beans and wash thoroughly.
- Hot pack: cover with boiling water and bring to a boil. Raw pack: fill jars with raw beans without pressing or shaking.
- Maintain source-specified headspace: small beans 1 inch in pints and 1 1/2 inches in quarts; large beans 1 inch in pints and 1 1/4 inches in quarts. Add boiling water and optional salt.
- Pressure process pints 40 minutes or quarts 50 minutes.
- Dial 11/12/13/14 psi by altitude; weighted 10 psi through 1,000 ft and 15 psi above.
Recipe Notes
Private Notes
Questions or results?
Discuss this recipe with the canning community. Community comments do not replace the tested source or safety classification shown on this page.
Join the discussion
Please log in or create a free account to discuss this recipe. You will return here afterward.
Tried this recipe?
Share your results how it turned out.How to serve fresh shelled lima beans
Heat as a side dish or add after opening to succotash, soups, casseroles, and salads.
Fresh shelled lima beans questions
Why is there no single headspace value?
NCHFP specifies different fills and headspaces for small versus large lima beans; follow the recipe card.
Can I use a boiling-water canner?
No. This low-acid food requires pressure
What if pressure drops?
Restore the required pressure and restart the full processing time.
Small versus large lima beans
Their density and fill differ, so the official instructions specify different jar fills and headspaces.
Fresh shelled lima beans troubleshooting
Why did beans expand above the liquid?
Use the correct bean-size fill, never press a raw pack, and preserve the specified headspace.
What if a jar does not seal?
Refrigerate promptly or follow an authoritative reprocessing procedure within the permitted time.
Source & provenance
NCHFP, “Beans, Fresh Lima – Shelled”. Official USDA/NCHFP tested home-canning guidance.
Editorial review: Supporting blocks checked against the official source on September 20, 2026. The WPRM recipe card was preserved.
Typical canning season
Season: Summer, Fall
Months: July, August, September
How much of the main ingredient should I grow?
15–30 lb of Beans per person per year
This is an annual planning range that includes preserving and typical fresh use. Plant, row-foot, and square-foot estimates are shown only when compatible cited yield or spacing data is available.
Garden yields vary by cultivar, climate, soil, pests, and care. Always measure the exact prepared ingredient amount required by the tested canning recipe.