Cleaning out the cool storage room today and I came across a few small bags of dried beans purchased in 2023. They're nearing the sell-by date on both varieties, chickpeas and navy beans. Of course I wanted to know just how much longer these will be good. I had other questions, too. So I did some reading. Here's what I found out.
Does that best-by date really mean that's when the beans will no longer be edible?
Several sites I read said dried beans are still edible even after expiry. It's a best-by date. The beans are still perfectly good to cook with for 1 or more years past the best-by date when stored in the manufacturer's plastic bag.
What are the enemies of dried beans?
moisture, direct sunlight, insects, oxygen, and heat
Can dried beans be kept in long-term storage for emergencies?
Yes, but they need to be kept from their "enemies." First, a little preventative work is recommended to kill off potential insect eggs by freezing the packages for 36-48 hours or heat kill on a baking sheet in a 250 degree oven for about 20 minutes prior to storage. Next, dried beans should be kept in airtight containers, like clean and dry canning jars.
The jars do not need to be processed or heat sealed, and the lids can be previously used ones. Once in jars, or other airtight container, keep the beans in a cool and dark location. Storing in this simple manner, dried beans will last for up to 3 years past the best-by date. By the way, a 1-qt canning jar holds approximately 1 1/2 pounds of dried beans.
If you want to keep dried beans for 5 or more years, vacuum sealing is a better option, as it removes excess air from the package before sealing. Beyond vacuum sealing, various airtight containers used in conjunction with oxygen absorbers can extend the life of dried beans for a decade or longer. Finally, some folks store their dried beans in the freezer. Many sources indicate that dried beans will keep indefinitely in a freezer.
Do dried beans lose nutrients when stored long term?
Yes and no. The vitamins in the beans will degrade gradually. However, the protein, calories, and minerals will remain intact.
How can I know if my dried beans have gone bad?
Smell and/or appearance will be the tell. If the dried beans have an off odor, beyond their usual dried bean-y smell, or if the beans have noticeable mold or fuzz on them, it's best to compost these beans. It's possible beans with a higher fat content can go rancid over time. And if moisture has become an issue where the beans are stored, and they're not in an airtight container, that's when mold can develop.
I went the simple route and stored my beans in clean canning jars, tucked into a cool and dark corner of our cool storage room. This room is on the north side of the house, and even in summer, this spot remains fairly cool. This is where I store our grains, vegetable oil, and canned goods. If nothing else comes of moving the found dried beans to canning jars, at least I'm now aware of how much I have and am making plans to use them up. I see some hummus in our very near future.
How about you? Have you ever had a problem with cooking old dried beans? How old would you think is too old for dried beans?
Old beans need more time to cook. I had dried broad beans (fava/faba beans) that were about three years past their best before date (we don't have sell-by date anymore). They took more than three hours boil to soften (after I had soaked them overnight), it usually takes 1 to 1,5 hrs.Same experience with old peas, took much longer to cook. But they tasted ok.
ReplyDeleteUlvmor
Hi Ulvmor,
DeleteSo about double the cooking time for older beans. That could be important to know. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have never had a problem with beans going bad in the moldy sense, but I've had old ones never get soft with cooking.
ReplyDeleteHi Live and Learn,
DeleteI think mold would be more likely to be a problem in the event that the beans were stored someplace damp, even before purchase. I bought fresh onions one year that must've been stored outside during a wet fall before making it to the wholesaler. They had such a mold issue. I can imagine this could happen to just about any agricultural product. So, you've had them not soften even with long-cooking. Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with Ulvmor that older beans need longer cooking times. I use my pressure cooker for all beans and even that takes more time. I had so many dried beans in quart jars and over the last year I was very intentional about using them. I am totally out so just last week I bought a small bag of black and pinto beans. Refried beans sound so good right about now!
ReplyDeleteAlice
Hi Alice,
DeleteGood job using your surplus of dried beans! I need to really be intentional with using what I have. Thanks for sharing -- this will inspire me to plan to use what I have more often.
I have also had the experience of needing to cook older beans much longer than fresh. A few years ago, I bought some of the 12 lb bags of pinto beans then available at Sam's Club, and put two of them in my backpack along with a rolled up blanket (so they'd ride higher in the pack) and my water and snacks, to roughly equate to the load I carry when backpacking. But then we didn't eat them for a very long time. I don't recommend storing them quite that long (8 years?) but they were still edible.
ReplyDeleteHi Cat,
DeleteI'm glad that you were still able to eat the 8-year old beans even though they took a long time to cook. I buy pintos in very large bags and have found myself with old beans before I know it. We go through phases where we eat more beans, and then other times we choose other protein sources. I need to make sure we plan our meals more consistently. Thanks for sharing your experiences, Cat.
I had a friend give me her grandmother's beans when she passed away that she had stored for 10 yrs.I put them in my slow cooker to cook over night like I do with all my beans and they were fine.I was always told not to add salt or tomatoes until after the beans were soft.I like to freeze them and then just use them like canned.I always make refried beans in my slow cooker also and freeze.I use bacon fat and taco seasoning in them and just use my immersion blender or potato masher to mash them up.
ReplyDeleteHi,
DeleteI've heard that, too, about not adding salt or tomatoes until the beans are soft. Hmm, I should try the crockpot for cooking beans. That would be simpler, for sure. Your frozen, seasoned beans sound delicious! Thanks for sharing.