Jacob's Cattle Beans - 3 or 5lb Box

Available in 3 lb and 5 lb Boxes · Harvested to Order · Ships Nationwide

Fresh Organic Jacob’s Cattle Beans are traditional shelling beans recognized by their beautiful white skins splashed with deep red or burgundy markings. Long associated with New England cooking, they have a rich, nutty flavor and a creamy texture while retaining their shape especially well.

Unlike dried Jacob’s Cattle Beans, fresh beans require no soaking and generally cook in 20–30 minutes. Use them for baked beans, soups, stews, braises, salads, and simple bean dishes—or freeze them while they are in season for use throughout the year.

These are fresh shelling beans for cooking and eating. The pods are not edible, and we do not sell seeds or plants.

Please note: Jacob’s Cattle Beans are shipped fresh in their pods. The selected box weight includes the pods, which are not eaten.

What Do They Taste Like?

Fresh Jacob’s Cattle Beans have a creamy interior and a rich, earthy, slightly nutty flavor. They hold their shape well during cooking, making them especially good for dishes in which the beans should remain distinct rather than break down completely.

They pair well with onions, garlic, tomatoes, maple syrup, molasses, mustard, sage, thyme, rosemary, smoked meats, winter squash, leafy greens, and hearty grains.

The beans’ distinctive red-and-white markings may soften or fade during cooking, but their creamy texture and full flavor remain.

How to Use Them

• New England-style baked beans
• Bean soups and hearty stews
• Slow-cooked braises
• Warm or chilled bean salads
• Beans with winter squash or leafy greens
• Grain bowls and side dishes
• Simply simmered and dressed with olive oil and herbs

How to Prepare Them

Remove the beans from their pods and rinse. Add them to gently simmering salted water or broth and cook until tender, generally 20–30 minutes depending on their size and maturity.

Fresh Jacob’s Cattle Beans do not require soaking. The pods are not edible and should be discarded or composted after shelling.

Fresh Jacob’s Cattle Beans vs. Dried Beans

Fresh Jacob’s Cattle Beans are harvested before they have fully dried inside their pods. Their higher moisture content gives them a more tender, creamy texture and a considerably shorter cooking time than dried beans.

There is no need to soak them overnight. Simply shell, rinse, simmer, and season.

Buy Now and Freeze for Later

Fresh Jacob’s Cattle Beans freeze well, making the larger box a useful way to stock your freezer while they are in season.

Shell the beans, blanch them briefly in boiling water, and transfer them immediately to ice water. Drain thoroughly, pack into freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze.

Frozen Jacob’s Cattle Beans can be cooked much like fresh beans and used throughout the year in baked beans, soups, stews, braises, and salads. There is no need to thaw them before cooking.

Shipping & Delivery

Seasonal Availability:
Available only during the fresh shelling bean season and harvested to order.

We ship all produce nationwide by overnight delivery. At checkout, please select your preferred available delivery date.

Shipping Schedule:
• Order by Thursday at 12 PM EST → Ships Monday
• Order by Sunday at 12 PM EST → Ships Wednesday

Orders generally arrive the following day. If a shipping or delivery date falls on a holiday, your box will ship on the next available shipping day.

Please review our Shipping & Returns Policy.