Have you ever imagined"Can you freeze black beans??” Yes, freezing black beans is not only possible, but a great money-saving idea! And it's not just black beans, you can freeze ALL beans. In this post, I want to teach you how to freeze black beans and pinto beans. Cooking and preparing frozen beans in bulk will save you big bucks!
I love finding ways to save a little more on our purchases. Beans are already a great way to save, so I want to take that to the next level with this frozen beans idea!
Saving food is a step-by-step process. I've applied for jobs over the yearsthe 2% ruleFor finding ways to cut our budget each month, I think I peaked when I found another creative solution.
For example, I've never played around with beans much. My first step was to mix beans with ground beef in recipes. That meant I could use 1 pound of ground beef and 1 can of beans and save a lot of money (not to mention eating a little bit healthier).
I was proud of myself for finding a way to fold our protein so cheaply. But then the next step was learning to stop buying canned beans and instead work with the dried beans in the 1-3 pound packets at the store. That was yet another savings.
Anyway, he learned to buy beans in 25 kg. Bags for US$25 and work with dried beans in bulk.
At every level I genuinely thought I couldn't be much more economical and yet the ideas just keep flowing.
One problem I encountered was the fact that in order to use beans in bulk, I had to be prepared and well planned. It takes several hours, if not overnight, to use them at all. I didn't buy canned beans because of the BPA factor, but even using pre-made beans saved me money even if it wasn't from my large bean stash. I'm a busy mother of 6 who also works from home so sometimes I can't find the time I need, but I don't like the cost of ready meals. It's a real fight!
So I would buy these packets of frozen beans for dinner and meal emergencies.
But that's where the next level comes in...taking my beans in bulk and having "a bean of fun" bagging my own beans. Now I only have to do it every 6 months and have the convenience of pre-cooked beans, which is a bit healthier.
And the price...well, a can of beans is only $0.10 a pack! And we use these beans a lot.
I also started making peppers a few years ago. Make about 12 cups of prepared beans and grind them into pepper. I make the chili with just beans (and of course tomatoes, corn and onions) and then freeze it in gallon ziplocks. I then either put it in the slow cooker as is or add beef or chicken as it cooks. It was another wonderful and economical solution that saves a lot of money but also avoids aluminum cans as much as possible.
Frozen beans are healthier than aluminum canned beans, but they cost a lot more. And canned beans themselves can get pretty expensive!
That's why I wanted to freeze black beans - money and health.
Let me tell you the story of how it happened:
I'm tryinghave a menu and meal plan, along withDinner at 10Plan a healthy meal with enough time to prepare. But when it comes to beans, I often miss the mark in prep, so I wanted a quick and easy way to throw some fresh beans that are already cooked into my recipes.
I bought some of these Hanover Beans Essentials for $1.28 at Walmart in the freezer section.
They were very helpful and very easy to use. The amount was perfect to add the 1lb. beef to make 1 pound. of pulled meat to equal 2 lbs. Beef in recipes (another way to save big by lengthening our meats with healthy supplements!).
Each pouch also equals 1 can of beans, which is an easy way to convert and cook them into recipes when recipes call for "1 can of beans".
I just didn't want to spend $1.28 more on my emergency bean needs when I forgot to pick up the beans we soaked the night before.
So I decided to just make mine!
How to freeze black beans
I did the following:
- I filled two 9 quart stock pots half full with dried beans. One had black beans and the other pinto beans. I then filled them with water to cover the beans, and then another inch of water (or until the water reached the first knuckle of my index finger when I touched the beans). I soaked them in 9 quart pots of broth overnight.
- I also try to water and rinse at least 3 times during the soaking process. This will greatly reduce bloating (or gas - whatever you want to call it!).
- Then I boil the beans for about 1 hour, drain and rinse at least once more.
- Then drain and rinse under cold water and let cool on the counter in a large bowl.
- I prepare ziploc sandwich bags for freezer storage and label them bean variety and date!
Now it's time to figure out how much to put in each bag! So if every store bought bag is equivalent to a can of beans, I want to keep the same measurement to continue to simplify using it in recipes and double my 1lb. of ground beef.
Well, 3/4 cup is one serving, and there's 3 servings total... So I'm also going to put three 3/4 cup scoops of baked beans in each sachet!
And that's exactly what I did!
Now I have my own fresh frozen beans for my last minute bean needs!
And now you know howFreeze black beansAlso!
Now, for the cost, I can buy a 25-pound bag of beans for $25 at a local grocery store. I've barely touched the bulk stock, so I'm guessing my version costs 0.10 (plus the cost of Ziploc!). That's quite an economy! They also keep well in the freezer as they can be frozen nice and flat, saving space in the freezer!
They turned out to have the exact consistency of the store-bought versions, which was perfect as I loved using the store-bought versions for convenience.
Now let's talk about a problem that many of us think of when we eat beans...that beautiful three letter word...gas.
Just want to mention this, I don't know if the next batch I make will be the same (hopefully with the same process shared above) but that seems to be causing itnot lessGas.
See, right after this budget project, I made black bean soup. Alex said he was feeling very bloated... he didn't feel it, I already knew it. 🙂 Then he said, "I wonder what we could do with that next time to reduce the gas." Well, I said, since that's from the LAST bag I bought... I hope my process (taught by my mother and grandmother) has less gas.
Sure enough, next time I used my own frozen beans and the gas was at a minimum! Alex was happy, but I was even more happy. 🙂
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FAQs
What's the best way to freeze black beans? ›
Simply drain and rinse your beans, place them inside a freezer bag or a reusable, freezer-safe container and fill with water so the beans are fully covered. Then, seal the bag or container, label it with the date and stick them in freezer for up to six months. When you're ready to use them, simply thaw and drain!
How long do black beans last in the freezer? ›They will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months. When ready to use your frozen beans, remove the beans from the freezer and thaw. They can be reheated on the stovetop, added to soups and stews or used however you would use canned beans.
Are frozen black beans good? ›What is this? Yes, you can freeze black beans. They do have a tendency to dry out a bit during the freezing process, but there are ways to minimize how much they dry out. Frozen black beans can still look and taste great, with a little bit of effort on your part.
What happens when you freeze beans? ›Freezing is a great way to preserve cooked beans! One pound of dried beans usually yields about six cups of cooked beans, which is often more than we need. You can easily freeze cooked beans for quick defrosting and use in small bags or containers.
Do you need to boil beans before freezing? ›Do you have to to boil (blanch) green beans before freezing? You don't need to boil green beans before freezing. What is this? By boiling green beans for 2 minutes and then draining and placing them in a bowl of ice cold water you very slightly cook and soften the beans.
How do you defrost frozen black beans? ›Beans maintain their shape better if they are thawed slowly. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator, for several hours at room temperature, or for about an hour in a pan of warm water. When the beans can be removed from their freezer container, put them in a saucepan to reheat and finish cooking.
What happens if you don't blanch beans before freezing? ›If you skip the blanching step and just place your green beans straight into the freezer, you run the risk of your veggies becoming mushy, flavorless and far from their original bright green shade over time.
Can you freeze beans without blanching them first? ›There's no need to blanch green beans before freezing them. I tested it both ways, out of curiosity, and I actually prefer the beans that were frozen without any sort of cooking first. To freeze green beans, all you have to do is cut them, then arrange them in a single layer on a pan lined with parchment paper.
What is the best way to freeze cooked beans? ›Drain some of the cooking liquid, leaving enough just to cover them. Package them in plastic freezer bags or other freezer containers, leaving an inch or so of space at the top of the container to allow for expansion. Freeze for 2 to 3 months for best quality.
How do you store cooked beans in the freezer? ›Store cooked beans in a covered container that is not made from metal in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Also try storing cooked beans in smaller one to two cup portions, for ease of use in recipes.