kidney bean

vegetable

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Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

The kidney bean is an edible, nutritious seed from the common bean species (Phaseolus vulgaris). It is typically kidney-shaped, with dark red being a common variety. The common bean is a legume of significant global importance, second only to the soybean as a food crop.12

These beans are rich in protein, iron, thiamin, and riboflavin. While "kidney bean" can refer to various types in different countries, in the United States, it specifically denotes a kidney-shaped bean that is red, dark red, or white. Varieties like cannellini beans are also considered white kidney beans. Common beans are cultivated for their edible seeds and seedpods, with some varieties grown solely for dry seeds, others for immature pods, and some for both.23

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bean
Common bean
…French bean, haricot bean, or kidney bean in various countries; in the United States, however, kidney bean refers to a specific type that is definitely kidney-shaped and is red, dark red, or white. Green beans, anasazi beans, navy beans, black beans, northern beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans…
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…French bean, haricot bean, or kidney bean in various countries; in the United States, however, kidney bean refers to a specific type that is definitely kidney-shaped and is red, dark red, or white. Green beans, anasazi beans, navy beans, black beans, northern beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans…
Read More

common bean
…in the United States, however, kidney bean refers to a specific type that is definitely kidney-shaped and is red, dark red, or white. Green beans, anasazi beans, navy beans, black beans, northern beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans are all varieties of the species. Some varieties of the…
Read More
…in the United States, however, kidney bean refers to a specific type that is definitely kidney-shaped and is red, dark red, or white. Green beans, anasazi beans, navy beans, black beans, northern beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, and cannellini beans are all varieties of the species. Some varieties of the…
Read More