Storage for My Dried Beans

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?

"The American aim is that every man, woman and child may enjoy the better things of life."

This was a quote at the beginning of a 1941 sales/informational film, It Happened in the Kitchen. While this was basically a sales pitch for modernizing an older kitchen, that statement made me think about the "better things of life" from a 1940s perspective.

These days, when we think of the good life, we often consider expenditures for travel, fine dining in restaurants, a beautifully-furnished home, the latest smart phone, and other toys and luxuries. This isn't us, necessarily. But our current culture seems to push more and more extravagance in order to be satisfied in life.

In the 1940s, I do think American tastes and expectations were simpler. Perhaps the better things in life included a small starter home for the young family, an automobile ("an" as in singular), some leisure time on the weekend to enjoy with your family, and ample food. Add in a drive in the country on a Sunday afternoon, an occasional picnic, and a new dress or shirt each year and you felt like you had it all.

I'm trying to see my own life and its "better things" from a 1940s perspective. We now have a good solid roof over our heads to keep us (and our belongings) dry and a brand new furnace to keep us warm. Our freezer and pantry are well-stocked, and we have leisure time to enjoy picnics in spring and summer. We even have two cars, now, giving us freedom of transportation even when someone in the family has the other car out for the day. I suspect 2-car households were pretty rare in the 1940s. 

I don't think we're "bad" people for wanting to travel or eat out or have a beautifully-appointed home. Those are all really nice luxuries that many of us are fortunate enough to afford from time to time. But I do think it is a helpful mindset to consider that even without those luxuries, we are blessed. My tummy is full tonight and my room is warm. Those are blessings. 

Culture puts out a lot of noise about what we should want and how we should think. I'm trying to tune that noise out and think for myself. I've asked myself what I really want in this life, what are the better things in life for me. The answer for me is to have my family around, cook some good food for us all regularly, own a nice enough home to enjoy, have some ease in life so I'm not constantly worn out, own a reliable car so we can go interesting places for day trips, and have zero debt. Those are the better things in life.

The film was interesting and informative. Even if I don't plan on redoing our kitchen, it is helpful to see how I could organize my storage for greater efficiency and repurpose space to meet my needs more closely.

How do you define the better things of life?