Despite having a number of similarities, there are actually quite a few key differences between lima beans and fava beans. Let’s break them down:
Taste
The biggest difference between lima beans and fava beans comes down to taste.
Lima beans taste quite mild, with slight nutty and sweet undertones. They are also very starchy in taste, which puts many foodies off. However, those who really love lima beans point to their mild flavor being a real plus point, especially as they can soak up other flavors when added to a dish.
Overcook them though and they turn quite bitter.
With a far more ‘beany’ taste, fava beans taste richer than lima beans. They have a real earthy flavor and nutty taste that makes them great in salads, especially fresh fava beans. Fava beans also have much more of a ‘vegetable’ flavor while lima beans tend to taste much milder.
Availability
There’s a big difference between fava and lima beans when it comes to availability. Lima beans grow in the spring and fall/autumn months, whereas fava beans are a winter crop that can withstand extremely cold temperatures. They are generally available in spring, from March until May.
However, both fava beans and lima beans are available frozen all year round. They won’t taste quite as wonderful as the fresh frozen though!
Appearance
As we said earlier, fava beans and lima beans look quite similar at first glance. However, look a little deeper and there are a lot of visual differences.
Fresh fava beans are normally green in appearance, whereas lima beans can often be white, pale cream, brown or purple/red.
The pods of lima beans are usually quite wide and flat, shaped like a crescent moon. Whereas a fava bean’s pod, while still long and thin, is more rounded and bumpier.
Texture
Another difference between fava beans and lima beans is the texture once cooked. Lima beans have a starchier texture and, although both beans become quite soft and buttery once cooked, fava beans don’t fall apart like lima beans. They are firmer and keep their shape, while lima beans tend to crumble or act kind of like sponges that soak up flavor.
Eating them raw
Okay, here’s a BIG difference between the two. While fava beans can sometimes be eaten raw, pod and all (only fresh young beans), lima beans are not to eaten raw. This is because they contain a chemical compound known as ‘linamarin’, which turns into cyanide when eaten.
So, be aware that eating lima beans or butter beans raw can be dangerous.
