I wouldn't try drying them as many will mold before they dry enough for storage. Instead just use them like fresh shellies (fresh shelled beans) - lots of recipes available for shellies.

You can also freeze or can them if you have too many to use up shortly.

Dave

We often have that problem with early frosts. The best solution is to leave the pods on the vines for another month or so and let them dry out that way. In fact, thats the way the commercial pinto bean farmers do it - let a frost kill the plants, let them dry out in the field, and (hopefully) get them harvested when they're dry and before the snow.

I'd be tempted to spread them out on newspaper and turn the pods occasionally. Even if they develop fungus on the outside, that doesn't necessarily mean that the actual bean seed is getting hit.

thank you both

We already picked them but next year I'll try leaving them on the vine

For this batch, I'm going to start using or freezing!

Lisa