The Difference Between Lima Beans and Butter Beans (2024)

FAQs

The Difference Between Lima Beans and Butter Beans? ›

Other than what they're called and sometimes their color, butter beans and lima beans are exactly the same. Their species is called Phaseolus lunatus and the difference in their name is only a matter of geography. In the American South and the United Kingdom, they're butter beans.

Lima Beans vs. Butter Beans. Well, rest assured; the two are actually one in the same. There's no difference between lima beans and butter beans, though sometimes they're sold at different stages of maturity.

A lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), also commonly known as butter bean, sieva bean, double bean or Madagascar bean, is a legume grown for its edible seeds or beans.

Alicia Whidden, a fruit and vegetable horticultural agent in Hillsborough County, was out of the office but responded with a helpful note: “Both beans are the same species but lima beans are green and butter beans are traditionally speckled at least until cooked.”

Lima Beans. While they're all the same bean botanically, butter beans have different names depending on the region. In the South and in the United Kingdom, they're typically referred to as butter beans. Elsewhere in the U.S., they're known as lima beans (named for Lima, Peru, the bean's point of origin).

You'll see them labeled in different ways in the store, after all: frozen lima beans, canned butter beans, dried large limas—or is it dried large butter beans? Turns out, lima beans and butter beans are the same thing.

With lima beans, I have noticed they still cook tender if you skip soaking. Soaking limas can sometimes break down the beans, resulting in lots of small broken pieces. If you prefer to soak your lima beans, place them in a large bowl of water for at least 4 to 8 hours.

Some people may find that eating lima beans gives them gas and makes them feel bloated. This is because of their high fiber content. They also contain a particular type of fiber that, although helpful for gut health, is tough for your digestive system to break down. You can cut down on the gas by cooking them well.

Lima beans are nutritious food said to be rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Some potential health benefits of lima beans include stabilizing blood sugar levels, promoting heart health, supporting weight loss, and improving digestive health.

Who calls lima beans butter beans? ›

Folks in the American South and the United Kingdom typically call them butter beans (Southerners do love their butter). In the rest of the U.S., they're known as lima beans, after their origin in the city of Lima, Peru.

Butter Beans are a fantastically healthy ingredient – they're high in protein and fibre, and they're an excellent source of carbohydrates. Low in fat and calories but high in folate, starch and iron, they're one of the best store cupboard ingredients there is.

Butter beans, or in Italian: Bianchi di Spagna, are a variety of lima bean known for their firm, buttery texture and robust nature.

Butter beans are rich in vitamins and minerals, which are important for overall health. A source of potassium, magnesium, folate, iron, and zinc, they also contain calcium and protein. Both plant-based foodies and meat-lovers can really benefit from adding butter beans to their diet.

​​There are actually several different types of beans that fall into the category of “white beans.” The first are navy beans (also called pea beans, if you want to further confuse matters), then there's great northern beans (for all you Twin Peaks fans), cannellini beans (we'll get to that one a little later), and ...

Lima Beans

Lima beans are also commonly called butter beans for their buttery, rich flavor, and velvety texture. Popular in Southern American dishes, lima beans are the main ingredient in a classic succotash and are common to add to casseroles, soups, or simmered with pork to serve as a savory side dish.

For starters, butter beans grow from the Phaseolus lunatus plant while cannellini beans, like navy, and great northern beans grow from the Phaseolus vulgaris plant.