The power and the benefits associated with the consumption of beans are something incredible for humans. They can be prepared in different manners, and depending on the types of beans that we have in front, there could be huge variations in the taste.
The USA is the main producer of beans; farmers cultivate more than 1.7 million acres of dry beans every year. It is well known that it is fairly easy to find beans in almost every part of the city where you live, but if you have purchased it in large quantities and don’t want to consume it? What can you do? How long do uncooked beans last?
Can you freeze uncooked beans? Yes, you can freeze uncooked beans if your main goal is to utilize them in the future. Freezing the beans will give you the advantage of getting rid of pests and other bacteria that may arise when you store them at room temperature.
Uncooked beans have the advantage of lasting longer than other vegetables. You can utilize them after more than 6 months.
But, knowing the lasting period without a proper method to store it is unuseful, and I can imagine that you don’t want to miss it, so let’s dive in.
Do you have to cook beans before freezing?
Not necessary; you can freeze beans uncooked directly if you do not touch them for the next 6 to 8 months.
We consume most of the vegetables that we usually purchase in a few days or a week. Anyway, it could happen that the quantity purchased is too much, or that we received it from some parents as a gift.
If you don’t want to lose them, you have to take corrective action by avoiding losing them. Most people suggest cooking beans before freezing them, but you are not obliged to do so. It will all depend upon your expected time for the next preparation.
Can I freeze uncooked soaked beans?
One of the strongest points of beans is that they can be frozen in any condition. If you have already cooked them or just soaked them uncooked, you can freeze them, but by doing it, you must consider some important things.
To better conserve the beans in the refrigerator, it will be best to soak the beans and dry them.
While some others peoples could decide to store the soaked beans with all the water inside them, and then use the water to increase the taste of the dishes.
Uncooked soaked beans can be freezing for a period that goes from 5-9 months.
Do I need to blanch beans before freezing?
It will depend upon your preferences and how long you have to keep the beans in the refrigerator.
Blanching the vegetables and, in that case, the beans, will have only a positive advantage since it will ensure long conservation of the flavor.
Blanching is a process largely used in the kitchen, especially by people that want to preserve foods but mostly vegetables and legumes for a long time.
You will break the enzyme by doing that process, ensuring that the beans will keep their original color and flavor.
Blanching is done by simply inserting the beans into boiling water for 1 hour before inserting them in the refrigerator.
Do beans freeze well?
Yes, beans freeze well, and conservation can be considered the best method ever used for a longer time.
The best way to freeze the beans is to get them blanching and then position them inside a plastic bag or a container.
By blanching the beans, you will increase the chance of getting better results, and they will keep the original color and flavor for a longer time.
Can you freeze uncooked pinto beans?
Pinto Beans is a very popular variant of beans; it is mainly used in Latin American countries, especially in Mexican cuisine.
If you fall in love with Mexican cuisine, the pinto beans are probably the first thing you thought of purchasing. Anyway, I can imagine that getting the right quantity, especially the first time, can be challenging, and if you finish by purchasing more than the due, do not worry because you can freeze it.
Yes, uncooked pinto beans can be frozen, and it is usually done by people that have many pinto beans that they will not utilize in a short period. Uncooked pinto beans can stay in the freeze for more than 6 months.
Also on that case, the best thing to do before freezing the beans is to blanch them.
If you are not interested in blanching them, you can directly freeze them without any problem. But consider that cooking and then freezing them will increase the overall taste.
Can I freeze and reheat beans?
Yes, it is a normal procedure to freeze and reheat beans; the important thing to do is to defrost them properly before reheating.
As we mentioned early, freezing the beans can be done without any worry, and by following all the procedures, the result will be amazing. Anyway, as soon as it is time to utilize the beans that have been frozen, it is important to understand how to do it properly by avoiding mistakes.
To defrost the beans that have been in the freezer, you should keep them on the container ( if during the freezing process they were inside it), or in case positioning it inside the container, and wait for 6 hours to defrost.
On average, if the temperature of where the beans will be defrosted is around 20 C, you can expect that they will defrost in 5 hours. After passing that time, you can reheat the beans as you like.
Final thoughts
Freezing uncooked beans is completely normal. If you wish to preserve the beans for the longest time, freezing them is surely the best method that you can adopt.