I’d like to prepare healthy packed lunch for my daughter and I was thinking of preparing cooked beans. All my mornings are always busy with a toddler in tow, so I’d like to prepare this the night before. Is it okay to freeze cooked beans? Is it safe to freeze for later consumption?
Quick Answer
Cooked beans are definitely a healthy meal for families. It is packed with protein which is great for clean diets. Canned beans, however, may be flavorless for some and unhealthy because of its preservatives. So, one may opt to cook batches of beans from scratch and store them for later consumption.
The best way to store cooked beans? Freeze them. Freezing the beans may be the best option to store them and prolong freshness. Another great thing about this is thawing the cooked beans for lunch or dinner is easy. So, yes, you can have cooked beans stored in your refrigerator and later on, grab them easily for preparing bean meals.
Can you Freeze Cooked Beans?
Freezing is one of the most effective and efficient ways of storing cooked beans for later consumption. This process locks in the taste and freshness so you don’t have to worry about easy spoilage while it’s in your freezer.
All you need is a bit of white wine vinegar to keep the beans from splitting in the freezer and that is enough to keep them preserved for up to three months. Imagine, three months of easily accessible cooked beans for your home cooked meals.
Even though you will be adding white wine vinegar to your cooked beans, don’t worry because the flavor will not change. While freezing, since the beans are sometimes too small, they may crack.
So, while in the freezer, it is important to keep the beans intact, and white wine vinegar does this job perfectly. This step is important to keep in mind if you’d like to prepare whole beans and not cracked ones.
Thawing is easy as you would only need to place the container with the cooked beans under warm water. Alternatively, you may place it in the microwave oven for faster thawing.
After thawing, you will find that the cooked beans are still perfectly fresh and full of flavor. With these defrosted cooked beans, you may now start experimenting with different recipes for your family.
How to Freeze Cooked Beans
Keeping your cooked beans fresh for later consumption is possible by properly storing them in your refrigerator. Here are simple and easy steps to take in freezing cooked beans.
- Let the cooked beans cool to room temperature. Remember not to store hot or warm foods as this will increase the temperature of your freezer. In effect, the food around it will defrost and may cause spoilage. So be patient and let your beans cool before proceeding to store
- Remove any garlic or vegetable that you may have been placed with the beans.
- Add about one and a half teaspoon of white wine vinegar on approximately one pound of beans. The acidity of the vinegar will help keep the beans intact and avoid splitting while freezing. Don’t worry because this will not affect the flavor as much.
- Place the beans in separate containers. If you plan to consume the beans on separate occasions, portion the beans accordingly.
- These cooked beans can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- To use these frozen beans, you can easily thaw them out under warm water or use a microwave oven. After thawing, you can use them for any scrumptious recipe you choose.
How To Use Up Extra/Leftover Cooked Beans?
Cooked beans are a versatile and healthy ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes. But what do you do when you have extra cooked beans? Here are five delicious ways to use up your leftover cooked beans:
1. Add them to soup – Beans make a great addition to soup. Just add them in with your other favorite ingredients, and you’ll have a hearty and nutritious meal in no time.
2. Make a chili – Chili is a classic dish that is always better with beans. Just add your cooked beans to a pot of chili, and you’ll have a delicious meal that everyone will love.
3. Use them as a topping for salad – Beans make a great topping for salads. Just add them in with your other favorite toppings, and you’ll have a healthy and delicious salad in no time.
4. Make a bean dip – Bean dips are a great way to use up cooked beans. Just add them to a food processor with some spices and oil, and you’ll have a tasty dip that everyone will love.
5. Add them to your favorite recipe – Beans can be used as an ingredient in almost any recipe. Just add them in with the other ingredients, and you’ll have a delicious dish that is sure to please.
So there you have it – five delicious ways to use up your leftover cooked beans. Next time you find yourself with extra beans, try one of these recipes and enjoy!
Cooked Beans Recipes
Cook your beans in a whole different way with these three easy video recipes. Nothing compares to the classic homemade bean soup. To bring warm comfort in the chilly nights, try out this delicious recipe:
Baking beans is also another common method of preparing bean meals. In this video recipe, you will learn how to prepare BBQ baked beans for your lunch or dinner meals:
Add rich Caribbean flavors into your stewed beans by following this simple recipe. This is a great and interesting upgrade for your defrosted cooked beans:
Wrap Up
Yes, you can freeze cooked beans. Frozen beans will last for up to 3 months in the freezer. To freeze your cooked beans: let them cool down after cooking, remove any vegetables or garlic that were added before storing, add about 1-2 tsp of white wine vinegar per pound of beans and store it in a container with enough space so they don’t crack during freezing. After thawing the frozen bean meal is still fresh and flavorful!