Let’s put a stop to the age-old argument about butter beans vs. lima beans: Both are just different terms for the exact same legume just at different times.
Lima, as well as butter beans, offer a protein wallop into soups, curries, and even summertime salads. The beans’ verbal effect is not unusual, despite their relatively bland flavor.
So, the purpose of this post is to assist you to understand the distinctions between the two varieties of beans.
Key Takeaways
- Lima beans are larger, flatter, and lighter in color than butter beans, which are smaller, rounder, and darker.
- Lima beans have a more pronounced, earthy flavor, whereas butter beans boast a subtle, creamy taste.
- Both beans offer various health benefits, including high fiber content, essential vitamins and minerals, and low fat.
Lima Beans vs Butter Beans
Lima beans, also known as butter beans or sieva beans, are large, flat beans that are native to South America. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. Butter beans, also known as lima beans are a type of large, creamy-white bean that is commonly used in Southern cuisine. They are a good source of protein, fiber, and various vitamins.
Lima beans are flat, spherical beans with a light green tint that are consumed as food. This legume has been grown in Peru’s capital for 7,000 years.
These beans were brought to the United States in the nineteenth century. The vast majority are currently grown in California. Lima beans are kidney-shaped and flat.
Butter beans are lima bean varieties with big, flat, white kernels. In general, individuals in South America, as well as the United Kingdom, refer to these beans like butter beans instead of lima beans.
As a result, they are distinguished from lima beans by their name. Furthermore, these beans appear to be larger in size and more difficult to chew.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Lima Beans | Butter Beans |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Lima beans are very small in size when compared to butter beans. | Butter beans are bigger in size and flat in structure. |
| Shape | Lima beans are flat and round in shape. | Butter beans are kidney-shaped and are a bit flat. |
| Color | These are very soft and bright green in color. | These are pale yellow and whitish in color. |
| Mostly Cultivated | Lima Beans are mostly cultivated in California and European countries. | Delaware and Peru rank high in the regions where the butter beans are cultivated. |
| Content | Lima beans are rich in roughage fibers and have a good content of carbs and protein. | Butter beans are rich in protein and offer a great amount of digestive fibres. |
What are Lima Beans?
Lima beans are a kind of legume recognized for their unique taste, creamy consistency, and distinctive color, which can range from beige to green. It’s also known as the buttered bean, the double bean, or even the waxy bean.
Lima beans could be eaten either in their embryonic or adult states. They come in a multitude of forms, including dried, refrigerated, and canned.
Lima beans really are delicious and adaptable, but they are also incredibly nutritious and have also been connected to several possible health advantages.
Consuming these protein-rich legumes also might result in healthy weight reduction, better blood sugar management, and better heart health.
Lima beans are plain, round beans with such a light greenish tint that are eaten.
This bean has indeed been cultivated in Peru’s capital (as suggested by the name) for over 7,000 years. In the 19th century, these legumes were transported to the U.S. as the taste was pretty appealing to the Americans.
Currently, the vast bulk is cultivated in Californian regions. Lima beans are kidney-shaped as well as flat.
Lima beans, for example, have a low glycemic index, making them an excellent choice for diabetics. Beans are indeed high in dietary fiber, which slows glucose absorption and lowers blood sugar levels.
Fiber-rich foods can also help with weight loss by keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
Beans include insoluble fiber, commonly known as roughage fibers, in contrast to soluble fiber that the body can digest.
While your body cannot digest this type of fiber, it aids digestion by allowing excrement to flow more swiftly through your stomach. Consuming a high-fiber diet will help you avoid dehydration, which can contribute to hemorrhoids.
What are Butter Beans?
The popular choice for Phaseolus lunatus, a leguminous bean variety that many regards to be a veggie, is “butter beans.”
These are constantly linked to the more popular lima bean, as well as the two share numerous similarities — yet most gardeners think that, despite having comparable physical traits, they are not all the same.
These are quite frequent in Southern cooking techniques and also appear in so many Mediterranean cuisines.
Butter beans come in two types that many chefs are familiar with. Cooks can use either standard cream-colored or checkered butter beans. There are also subtle distinctions between such two butterbean kinds.
Butter beans, also known as huge lima beans, are large, relatively flat beans that range in color from light yellow to whitish.
These were found in Peru by European conquistadors, who called them after Lima, the capital of the country.) Butter beans have such a deep, delicious, nearly buttery taste and a silky consistency.
They’re delicious roasted or roasted, as well as in chowders as well as succotash.
It is not mandatory to drench the butter beans before boiling or rather consuming them, but soaked beans cook faster and more uniformly, and they are simpler to digest.
There are two methods for soaking dry beans: a cold (longer) soak, which ensures thoroughly soaked beans, or a warm (rapid) soak, which is faster but may result in certain beans not being fully watered and hence not cooking as evenly.
When eaten hot, these legumes are extremely tasty.
Main Differences Between Lima Beans and Butter Beans
- Lima Beans are green in color whereas butter beans are pale yellow in color.
- Lima beans have a softer texture whereas butter beans have a harder texture.
- The roughage provided by lima beans is very high when compared to butter beans which are rich in protein and digestible fiber.
- Lima beans are green because they are not much matured whereas the butter beans are quite mature and ripe.
- Lima beans are considered vegetables whereas butter beans are considered pulses and legume seeds.
- https://www.thekitchn.com/good-question-2-15403
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/lima-beans
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
I’ve put so much effort writing this blog post to provide value to you. It’ll be very helpful for me, if you consider sharing it on social media or with your friends/family. SHARING IS ♥️
Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
Beans beans, good for your heart, the more you eat, the more you…
Please, let’s maintain a certain level of decorum in our discussions.
So interesting to learn about the various types of beans and the health benefits they offer.
Yes, beans are so versatile and a great source of protein.
I never knew there was such a difference between Lima beans and Butter beans, fascinating read.
Although I appreciate the effort to provide information, I feel that the distinction between the two types of beans is just a semantic one.
A thorough and informational piece, I never knew the differences between the two types of beans before.
I’m not convinced that there is a significant distinction in taste between the two, it’s all marketing and wording.
I’m afraid the distinction is very real. Butter beans have a creamier texture and a richer flavor compared to Lima beans.