Cannellini Beans vs Butter Beans (Are They Different?)

Ever noticed Cannellini beans look like Butter beans?  yeah me too and it made me curious about whether or not they are the same beans.

I did a little research and put together what I found in this helpful article.

Butter beans are also called lima beans, sieva beans, double beans, and Madagascar beans.

And Cannellini beans are the white version of the popular kidney beans.

But, you might be wondering which are healthier, and if they grow differently.

So read on where I’ll explain the answers to these questions, so you can make the right choice for your diet.

What are the differences between Cannellini beans and Butter beans?

Cannellini beans and butter beans are different because of:

• Their nutritional qualities
• How they taste
• The way they grow
• Their scientific classification

Cannellini beans and butter beans have different amounts of nutrients.

Below is a table with a side by side comparison:

Properties	Cannellini beans per 3.5 oz (100 grams)	Butter beans per 3.5 oz (100 grams)
Energy (kcal)	77	77
Protein (g)	5.38	3.85
Total lipid (fat) (g)	0	0.77
Carbohydrate(g)	13.85	14.62
Fiber (g)	3.1	5.4
Sugars (g)	0	0.77
Calcium, Ca (mg)	31	31
Iron, Fe (mg)	1.54	1.11
Sodium, Na (mg)	269	292

As you can see Cannellini beans are higher in protein, but have slightly less fiber, and Iron.

All the other nutrients are very similar, except that butter beans have higher total lipid fat.

Most people who go to the gym and are trying to build muscle need to eat a lot of protein.

And it’s a challenge to find foods that contain enough without drinking protein shakes.

So, if you’re into building muscle, Cannellini beans are better than Butter beans because they contain more protein.

However, in my research I noticed the nutritional qualities shown in the table above can be very different.

Canned Cannellini and Butter bean producers will sometimes add salt, and other preservatives, which increases the amount of sodium and other nutrients.

So, it’s a good idea to compare this data with the label on canned beans you are looking to buy.

Cannellini beans are a white variety of kidney beans, and they do taste much quite similar to kidney beans.

Kidney beans and have a rich, aromatic, and wholesome taste.

Butter beans on the other hand taste quite velvety and have an almost buttery taste.

The seed pods that contain Cannellini beans are short, and wide.

On the other hand the pods of Butter beans are long and thin.

Both beans look roughly the same.

Butter beans in appearance are flatter and slightly bigger, compared to Cannellini beans which have the shape of kidney beans.

Which are more oval in shape, and slightly smaller than Butter beans.

Cannellini beans have the scientific name Phaseolus vulgaris, which is different to Butter beans which have the scientific name Phaseolus lunatus.

Phaseolus is the Genus which is the scientific name for wild beans. And vulgaris, and lunatus are the species of beans.

It is possible for beans to cross-pollinate to produce slightly different varieties.

This occurs when the beans are planted. But, according to Melinda Myers, a well known gardening expert, beans self-pollinate.

So, the chance that this happens is quite rare. And, as a result beans remain quite unique in their look, appearance, and taste.

Both Cannellini beans (white kidney beans) and Butter beans were discovered in South America.

However, they grow in most climates around the world.

Almost all beans will substitute well for Butter beans.

But, the most similar beans are Cannellini beans, which are a white variety of Kidney beans.

Fayot (Flageolet), Pinto beans, Great Northern beans, and Navy beans are also quite similar.

Although, they aren’t close in appearance and taste the following legumes are similar enough that they will work in a recipe that calls for butter beans:

• Red beans
• Mung beans
• Kidney beans
• Black beans
• Chickpeas
• Lentils
• Peas
• Soybeans
• Black-eyed peas
• Adzuki
• Anasazi

All of these beans are quite easy to find in a supermarket, either canned, or dried.

Each of those beans though look different, and have a much different taste.

So, you might find some that work better than others for a particular recipe.

But, you’ll have to experiment to find the best ones.

You can often find canned bean mix, which has a combination of different beans. So, you can get an idea of what each of them tastes like.

Butter beans have a color that is similar to butter – they are white to light yellow. They also have a slightly buttery taste.

As you lift up the leaves of a butter bean plant you will find the bean pods hanging underneath. Inside the bean pods you will find about half a dozen butter beans.

Butter beans and Pinto beans are very different. Pinto beans are speckled and are smaller and rounder than butter beans.

Butter beans and completely white to light yellow in color, and are quite flat and wide.

They can be used in the same recipes, for example soups, or to fill pasta.

Pinto beans compared to other beans are high in protein – with about 5 times as much protein as other beans.

So they’re a good choice for people trying to maintain or put on muscle.

I was researching different types of beans for the recipes I regularly made, and did a side by side comparison of which are healthier Black beans and Pinto beans.

You can read the article I wrote about it by clicking Which Is Healthier Pinto or Black Beans?

I also did some thorough research into whether canned kidney beans are good for you.

You can read that article by clicking her Are canned kidney beans good for you?

It explains some key information about how often you should eat canned beans. Because eating them too often can be bad for your health.

Cannellini beans and Butter beans are different species.

You might mistake them for one other especially when they’re cooked because they’re both white to light yellow in color.

They have some differences though, for example Butter beans are flatter and bigger compared to Cannellini beans.

Cannellini beans are the white version of kidney beans, and have the same shape.

Cannellini beans are also higher in protein, but don’t have as much fiber, and Iron as Butter beans.

Other than that they have a similar nutrient profile.