A question of maturity

Q. What is the difference between immature and mature pinto beans?

A. As you've noticed, when you search the database for certain beans, such as pinto or lima beans you'll find listings for both "mature" and "immature" beans. But you might not have noticed that the "mature" varieties are classified as legumes while the "immature" beans are in the vegetable category.

Beans that are shelled and eaten green are considered immature. Beans that have been allowed to ripen and then dried are considered mature.  So, if you are buying them in the produce or frozen vegetable section, they are immature. If you are buying them in the canned and dried bean aisle, they're mature.

Nutritionally, the mature and immature varieties are fairly similar, except that the mature (dried) beans appear to be significantly higher in folate and selenium.