Are Green Beans Considered High in Potassium?

December 1, 2025 •

3 min read

While bananas are famously known for their potassium content, the categorization of other foods, like green beans, can be less clear. Most healthy adults require thousands of milligrams of potassium daily, and understanding which foods contribute significantly is key to a balanced diet. The good news is that green beans are not considered high in potassium, making them a versatile dietary staple for many.

Quick Summary

Green beans contain moderate levels of potassium, but are generally not classified as high-potassium foods, especially when prepared properly. Their content varies based on whether they are raw, cooked, or canned. Health authorities define high-potassium foods as those with over 200 mg per standard serving, and green beans typically fall below or just at this threshold, making them a good option for most diets, including low-potassium plans.

Key Points

Low to Medium Content: Green beans are not considered a high-potassium vegetable, typically providing a moderate amount of the mineral per serving.
Cooking Reduces Potassium: The potassium content of green beans significantly decreases when they are boiled and drained, as potassium is water-soluble.
Raw vs. Cooked: A cup of raw green beans has more potassium (approx. 229.9 mg) than a cup of boiled, drained green beans (approx. 182.5 mg).
Canned Options are Lower: Canned green beans are generally even lower in potassium compared to their fresh or frozen counterparts due to the water-based processing.
Safe for Most Diets: For healthy individuals, the potassium level in green beans is not a concern, and they are a safe vegetable for most dietary plans, including those needing to watch their intake.
Not a 'Potassium Powerhouse': Unlike high-potassium foods like sweet potatoes or spinach, green beans offer a more modest contribution to your daily potassium needs.

Potassium Content in Green Beans

For many people, tracking potassium intake is a key part of maintaining overall health, particularly for those with kidney concerns or high blood pressure. A food is generally considered 'high' in potassium if it contains 200 mg or more per serving. Green beans, depending on their form and preparation, typically fall into the low-to-medium potassium range.

Raw vs. Cooked Potassium Levels

There's a notable difference in potassium levels between raw and cooked green beans, primarily due to how water-soluble minerals behave during cooking.

Raw Green Beans: A one-cup serving contains approximately 229.9 mg of potassium. This places raw green beans just above the 200 mg threshold for a single cup, but for a more typical half-cup serving, the amount is around 115 mg, putting it in the medium range.
Cooked Green Beans (Boiled and Drained): Boiling green beans significantly reduces their potassium content. A one-cup serving of boiled, drained green beans has about 182.5 mg of potassium, moving it firmly into the medium-potassium category. A half-cup serving would contain only around 91 mg.
Canned Green Beans: Due to the processing and canning methods, which often involve a water medium, the potassium content of canned green beans is also reduced. A half-cup serving can have as little as 65 mg of potassium.

The Importance of Cooking Method

As demonstrated, cooking methods can have a significant impact on the final potassium content of green beans. For those on a low-potassium diet, boiling and draining is an effective strategy to further reduce mineral content. Another technique is to soak the green beans for several hours before cooking. For frozen green beans, this soaking process can be even more effective due to the freezing process damaging cell walls and allowing more potassium to leach out.

Low vs. High Potassium Vegetables: A Comparison

To understand where green beans stand nutritionally, it's helpful to compare them to other common vegetables. The following table illustrates the significant differences in potassium levels per standard half-cup serving.


Vegetable	Potassium Content (per ½ cup serving)	Classification	Notes
Green Beans (Cooked)	Approx. 91 mg	Low-Medium	Boiling and draining reduces potassium.
Sweet Potato (Baked)	Approx. 450 mg	High	One of the highest vegetable sources of potassium.
Spinach (Cooked)	Approx. 420 mg	High	Extremely high in potassium when cooked.
Broccoli (Cooked)	Approx. 230 mg	High	Well above the 200 mg high-potassium threshold.
Corn (Cooked)	Approx. 195 mg	Medium	Slightly below the high-potassium cutoff.
Cucumber (Peeled)	Approx. 81 mg	Low	A very low-potassium option.

The Role of Potassium in the Body

Potassium is a crucial mineral and electrolyte that plays many vital roles in the body. It helps regulate fluid balance, supports proper nerve and muscle function, and helps manage blood pressure by counteracting the effects of sodium. A diet rich in potassium has been linked to a lower risk of stroke and improved cardiovascular health. For most healthy individuals, green beans can contribute to a balanced intake of this important mineral.

Conclusion

In summary, the answer to "are green beans considered high in potassium?" is no. With a typical cooked half-cup serving providing well under 100 mg, green beans are a medium-to-low potassium vegetable. While a cup of raw green beans might edge into the high-potassium category, standard cooking methods significantly reduce this amount. For most people, green beans are a nutritious addition to the diet that does not pose a risk for excessive potassium intake. For those on restricted diets, boiling is an effective method to further lower the mineral content, making green beans a flexible and healthy food choice.

Other Considerations

For those on a very strict low-potassium diet, particularly those with advanced kidney disease, it is always best to consult a registered dietitian or a healthcare professional. They can provide personalized advice and the most accurate up-to-date nutritional information based on specific health needs.

Resource for Low Potassium Diets: National Kidney Foundation

Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, green beans are not considered a high-potassium food. A standard serving size contains a moderate amount of potassium, and cooking methods like boiling further reduce the content.

A one-cup serving of cooked, boiled, and drained green beans contains approximately 182.5 mg of potassium. This is below the 200 mg threshold often used to define a high-potassium food.

Yes, canned green beans are typically lower in potassium than fresh green beans. The canning process, which involves processing in water, reduces the mineral content.

High-potassium vegetables include sweet potatoes, spinach, broccoli, and tomatoes, all of which contain significantly more potassium per serving than green beans.

For those needing to limit potassium, boiling green beans in a pot of water and then draining them can effectively reduce the mineral content. For frozen green beans, soaking them first is also very effective.

Potassium is essential for maintaining fluid balance, nerve signaling, and muscle contractions, and it helps manage blood pressure. A diet rich in potassium can also help protect against stroke.

No, in many cases, green beans are a safe and recommended vegetable for individuals with kidney disease due to their low-to-medium potassium levels. However, individuals should always follow their doctor or dietitian's specific dietary advice.