How long do cooked beans last in the fridge?
In this article, we will answer the question “How long do cooked beans last in the fridge?”, and how to store beans?
How long do cooked beans last in the fridge?
Cooked beans have a shelf-life of 3-5 days in the fridge. For prolonged storage, pop them in the freezer where they can last for about 6 months.
How long do cooked pinto beans?
Cooked pinto beans last 3-5 days in the fridge. While cooked pinto beans have a pretty much indefinite shelf-life in the freezer, they are best consumed within 8 months of freezing.
How to cook pinto beans?
- Pinto beans must be soaked overnight or at least 6 hours before cooking. Soaking the beans will prevent the flatulence or the ‘bean gas’ that occurs due to the indigestible sugars present in their seed coat. Soaking loosens this coat so it is easily removed.
- Rinse and drain the soaked pinto beans. Transfer them to a pot. Fill the pot with water 1 inch higher than the beans.
- Add the salt, garlic, pepper, onion powder, or any of your favorite spices at this point. Bring the water to a rolling boil.
- Then reduce the heat and let the beans simmer for about 2 hours or until they are completely soft. Keep the lid slightly ajar to let some of the steam escape.
- When cooked thoroughly, transfer the beans to a bowl and let cool completely. Storing hot beans will trap the steam inside the container which will lead to bacteria growth and spoilage.
- Divide the beans into portions. Fill the container or freezer bags with the bean portions. Label the container if you want before popping it in the fridge or freezer.
The expiration dates of Beans
| Unopened | In the pantry | In the fridge | In the freezer |
| Past Printed Date | Past Printed Date | Past Printed Date | |
| Dried beans | Indefinite | — | — |
| Canned beans | 1 year | — | — |
| Fresh Green Beans | 1-2 days | 7-10 days | Cook first |
| Dried lentils | Indefinite | — | — |
| Opened | In the pantry | In the fridge | In the freezer |
| Canned beans | — | 5 days | — |
| Cooked beans | — | 5 days | 1 year |
| Beans sprouts | 1 day | 3-4 days | — |
| Hummus | — | 4-5 days | — |
How to store baked beans?
An unopened can of baked beans should be stored in a cool and dark place away from heat sources like direct sunlight and the stovetop.
The pantry or a kitchen cabinet with a consistent temperature is a suitable storage place for unopened cans of baked beans. Temperature fluctuations quickly spoil the quality of any food commodity and compromise its safety.
For storing the homemade baked beans or baked beans leftovers, cool them first. Do not allow the beans to sit in the temperature danger zone (between 40 °F and 140 °F) for a long time. It is recommended to store the beans within 2 hours of cooking.
After the beans have reached cool temperature, transfer them to an air-tight container or a resealable bag. Use a clean spoon for this purpose and not a dirty or used one.
Storing hot baked beans will produce steam that will harbor spoilage microbes. Suck as much air as possible if you are using the resealable bag for storage.
How to store leftover canned beans?
Drain the can
Canned beans need to be removed from the can after opening it. An unopened can is difficult to seal properly which results in an altered flavor due to the metal leaching.
Besides, an opened can with a flimsy seal is more susceptible to drying out, spoilage, and picking unwanted odors. Therefore, get rid of the can and grab a shallow plastic or glass container instead.
Rinse ‘em all
Transfer the drained beans into a colander and hold it under cold running water. After rinsing thoroughly, let the beans sit in the colander for 10 minutes to drain the excess moisture.
Decide the storage time
If the beans are to be consumed within 24 hours, simply put them in an air-tight container and pop them in the fridge. If you intend to store the beans for a few days, toss the beans with some olive oil before putting them in the storage container.
Rinse the beans to get rid of the oil before use if your recipe does not require the oil. If the beans are in for prolonged storage( more than 5 days), consider freezing them.
For this, transfer the beans to a freezer bag or a freezer-safe plastic tub. Fill the tub with fresh water. Thaw and rinse the beans before use.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “How long do cooked beans last in the fridge?”, and how to store beans?
