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In this post, you'll learn how to cook dried beans to perfection and freeze them for quick, delicious meals that save you time and money. Say goodbye to canned beans and hello to flavor and freshness!
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Confession: While there are so many reasons why I prefer to cook with homemade beans, I usually end up cooking with canned beans. It's just so much easier and quicker to open a can of pinto beans then to wait the 2 hours for dried pinto beans to cook!
But then I discovered a solution! It is so easy to cook dried beans and then freeze them for later. They taste just as fresh coming out of the freezer as they do co out of the pot. Plus, it's just as effortless to pull them out of the freezer as it is to crack open a can of beans.
Why Freeze Beans?
- It's convenient! You get the delicious taste of homemade beans with none of the effort.
- You Save Money! It's less expensive to buy dried beans than canned beans.
- Nutritional Benefits! You can control the amount of sodium in your homemade beans. Plus, beans lose some of their nutritional value during the high heat of the canning process. Those vitamins wont be lost if you choose to freeze the beans instead.
Which Type of Dried Beans Can Be Frozen?
Most types of dried beans freeze well after cooking, including:
- black beans,
- pinto beans,
- chickpeas (garbanzo),
- black-eyed peas,
- Great Northern,
- navy beans
Most people have success freezing kidney beans, but some report that the kidney bean texture becomes slightly grainy after thawing. I personally have not found this to be very noticeable.
Some people find that lima beans and fava beans become mushy after freezing and thawing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Freezing Beans
Step 1
Cook Your Dried Beans: Use your favorite cooking method (stove top, instant pot, or crock pot) to make a large batch of your dried beans.
Expert Tip
Slightly undercook your dried beans to help them maintain their texture after freezing and reheating.
Step 2
Cool Quickly: Spread the cooked beans out on a baking sheet to cool them quickly.
This helps prevent overcooking from residual heat and prepares them for freezing.
Expert Tip
You'll want your beans to be completely cool before placing them in the freezer. This prevents freezer burn.
Step 3
Portion Wisely: Divide the cooled beans into portion sizes you typically use in recipes. This way, you can thaw only what you need.
Expert Tip
1 can of beans usually contains 1.5 cups of beans, so you may want to freeze your beans in 1.5 cup servings
Step 4
Use Proper Containers! Place the beans in airtight freezer bags or containers.
Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.
Label and Date the containers before placing in the freezer.
Expert Tip
If you're using bags, lay bags flat for the most efficient storage and to ensure even freezing.
Cooked beans can be stored in the freezer for 3-6 months.
By following these steps, you can enjoy the convenience of having cooked beans on hand without compromising their texture or flavor.
Thawing Methods
You have several options when it comes to thawing your frozen beans.
Thaw in the Refrigerator
Move the beans from the freezer to the refrigerator about 24 hours before you plan to use them.
Thaw in the Microwave
- Transfer the beans to a microwave safe bowl and add a few tablespoons of water to prevent the beans from drying out. Cover the bowl.
- Use the defrost setting or set the microwave to 50% power and cook in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each interval.
- Continue microwaving until the beans are fully thawed and heated through. This usually takes 3-5 minutes, depending on the amount and your microwave's power.
- If there is any excess water after thawing, drain it off before using the beans.
Add Directly to Your Recipe
It is perfectly fine to add your frozen beans right into a recipe where they will be heated, such as a soup or stew.
Tips for Best Results
How to Prevent Freezer Burn
- Ensure beans are completely cool before placing them in storage containers or the freezer.
- Ensuring airtight packaging.
How to Maintain Texture and Flavor
- Slightly undercook your beans before freezing to prevent them from becoming mushy when they are defrosted.
- Don't re-freeze your beans. They will continue to lose quality each time they are re-frozen and thawed.
Thawing Tips
- Avoid Overheating: Be careful not to overheat the beans, as they can become too soft or mushy.
- Stir Frequently: Stirring helps distribute heat evenly and ensures that the beans thaw uniformly.
- According to the USDA, following unsafe thawing practices can be dangerous to your health. To read more about that, check out "The Big Thaw-Safe Defrosting Methods."
Recipe Ideas Using Frozen Beans
Do you need some inspiration for what to do with your frozen beans, here are some of my favorite bean recipes from around the web.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Your dried beans were cooked until they were very soft before freezing. Next time try slightly undercooking them.
There could have been an issue in the thawing process. Next time, try thawing them slower, at a lower heat.
They weren't stored in an air-tight, freezer-friendly container.
They were stored too long.
Absolutely, you can freeze cooked beans! In fact, it's a great way to save both energy and money. While dried beans are more economical than canned ones, they do require a significant amount of time to cook.
To maximize your time and stove usage, cook a large batch at once and freeze the extras for future use. Follow the guidelines in this article to ensure maximum texture and flavor freshness.
Equipment
Here are some great re-usable airtight containers you can freeze your beans in.
10 Pack, 30 oz Glass Meal Prep Containers
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Ziploc Endurables Medium Pouch, 2 Cups, Reusable Silicone Bags
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Zip Top Reusable Food Storage Bags
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Premium Silicone Collapsible Food Storage Containers
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DuraHome Deli Containers with Lids 24oz
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Lerine 6 Pack Reusable Gallon Freezer Bags
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Recipe
How To Freeze Cooked Beans
Equipment
- freezer friendly container
Ingredients
- Dried beans pinto, black beans, garbanzo, kidney, red, white, etc, etc.
Instructions
- Cook Your Dried Beans: Use your favorite cooking method (stove top, instant pot, or crock pot) to make a large batch of homemade beans.
- Cool Quickly: Spread the cooked beans out on a baking sheet to cool them quickly.This helps prevent overcooking from residual heat and prepares them for freezing.
- Portion Wisely: Divide the cooled beans into portion sizes you typically use in recipes. This way, you can thaw only what you need.
- Use Proper Containers! Place the beans in airtight freezer bags or containers.Remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn.Label and Date the containers before placing in the freezer.
- Cooked beans can be stored in the freezer for 3-6 months.
Notes
Conclusion
Whether it's pinto beans, black beans, or anything in between, cooking and freezing dried beans is an excellent idea. You can enjoy the convenience of having cooked beans on hand without compromising their texture, flavor, or nutrition.
I hope this guide was helpful to you!
Please let me know about your experience with freezing beans and if you have any tips or tricks. I love learning from my readers!
✌️Ems
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