Green Beans also known as french beans & string beans in the northeastern & western united states. Snap beans or squeaky beans are the unripe plant of a specific cultivated in varieties of the common bean. These green bean varieties have been bred especially for the fleshness, flavor or sweetness of their pods. Green beans are nearly universally distributed. They are marketed canned, frozen or as fresh. Green beans are often steamed, boiled, stir fried or cooked.