Lima beans, immature seeds, frozen, fordhook, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
Whole food · Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Photo: Wikipedia
Fordhook lima beans are large, creamy, and buttery legumes with a distinct, slightly earthy flavor. When frozen and boiled, they retain a tender yet firm texture, making them a comforting and hearty addition to meals. Nutritionally, they are an excellent source of plant-based protein and dietary fiber, with minimal fat.
Calorie split: 23% protein · 74% carbs · 3% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love lima beans for their rich, buttery texture and ability to absorb flavors from broths, herbs, and seasonings. They are a versatile staple in hearty stews, succotash, and side dishes, often evoking a sense of home cooking and comfort.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Some find the texture starchy or mealy, and the flavor can be perceived as bland without proper seasoning. For those monitoring blood sugar, the high carbohydrate content (19g per 100g) can cause spikes; pairing with a healthy fat (like olive oil) or protein can help moderate this. Also, dried lima beans contain lectins and must be soaked and cooked thoroughly to avoid digestive upset.
Key benefits
- High in plant-based protein (6g per 100g)
- Excellent source of dietary fiber (5.3g per 100g)
- Low in fat (0.34g per 100g)
- Provides complex carbohydrates for sustained energy
- Contains essential minerals like iron and potassium
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
Fordhook lima beans are named after the Fordhook Farm in Pennsylvania, where they were first commercially developed and popularized in the United States in the early 20th century.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 73.0 g |
| Energy | 103 kcal |
| Energy | 429 kj |
| Protein | 6.1 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 0.34 g |
| Ash | 1.3 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 19.3 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 5.3 g |
| Total Sugars | 1.3 g |
| Sucrose | 1.1 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.21 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 0.00 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 30.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.8 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 42.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 97.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 304 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 69.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.74 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.17 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.65 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 0.60 ug |
| Fluoride, F | 7.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 12.8 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.07 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.06 mg |
| Niacin | 1.1 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.16 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.12 mg |
| Folate, total | 21.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 21.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 21.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 36.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 10.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 114 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 190 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.29 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 5.1 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.08 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.16 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.11 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.05 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.08 g |
| Threonine | 0.26 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.39 g |
| Leucine | 0.48 g |
| Lysine | 0.40 g |
| Methionine | 0.06 g |
| Cystine | 0.07 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.30 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.20 g |
| Valine | 0.38 g |
| Arginine | 0.41 g |
| Histidine | 0.21 g |
| Alanine | 0.23 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.65 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.78 g |
| Glycine | 0.24 g |
| Proline | 0.09 g |
| Serine | 0.38 g |
FAQ
Are lima beans the same as butter beans?
Yes, they are the same bean. 'Lima bean' is the common name in the United States, while 'butter bean' is used in the UK and other regions, referring to the large, pale variety.
Why must dried lima beans be soaked and cooked properly?
They contain natural lectins, which can cause digestive discomfort if not neutralized by soaking and boiling for an adequate time. Canned or frozen versions are pre-cooked and safe to use directly.
How can I reduce the 'gas' associated with beans?
Soaking dried beans overnight and discarding the water, cooking them thoroughly, and starting with smaller portions can help. Gradually increasing your intake also allows your digestive system to adapt.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 1.03 kcal/g · 24% calories from protein · 5.3 g fiber · 1.3 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 0.23 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.