Raw Lima Beans Can Kill You!

Yep, you read that right... Raw lima beans can kill you! Raw lima beans contain a compound called linamarin, which turns into a cyanide when consumed.

Though you're likely not relaxing and enjoying raw lima beans as a snack, it's important to keep them away from children and to ensure you're properly cooking them. When you cook lima beans, it destroys the enzymes that would release the cyanide.

It's also worth mentioning that where you buy your beans from may also play a role in how much linamarin they contain. Lima beans in the U.S tend to have lower levels of cyanide. Though commercially grown lima beans in the U.S must have less than 200 mg/kg of cyanide, it's better to lean on the safe side and cook your beans thoroughly!