Select bright green beans that snap when broken in half. Their peak season is in the summer. Don't confuse this with the haricot bean, which is a dry bean. Select small, brightly colored beans that snap when you break them in half. Don't confuse these with lima beans, which are sometimes called wax beans.
Young ones are best.
Don't confuse this with the yard-long bean, which is also sometimes called an asparagus bean. Asians like to cut them into smaller pieces and add them to their stir-fried dishes. You can also boil or steam them like green beans, though they're not as sweet and juicy. They don't store well, so use them within a few days of purchase.