Are you wondering how long dried beans last? If you found a package of old dried beans in the back of your pantry they can be good for years beyond the expiration date.
Do the beans look and smell normal? If so, they are probably fine.
You can remove any bugs and still safely eat the beans if you absolutely must.
When stored properly, dried beans can have shelf life of 25-30 years! This is assuming you kept the beans fresh in air tight containers with oxygen absorbers and stored them in a cool, dark place.
For this reason, dried beans are one of the best foods for long term storage. Keep reading to learn all about dried beans and how to keep them long term.
What Are Dried Beans Anyways?
Dried beans are simply beans which have been dried and packaged. Before cooking dried beans you must first soak them in water.
Common dried beans you will find:
Pinto beans
Navy beans
Kidney beans
Black beans
White beans
Lentils
I usually soak my beans for at least 8-24 hours prior to cooking. When the beans are fully saturated with water they are ready to cook.
How to Tell If Dried Beans Are Bad? Dried Beans Shelf Life!
Dried beans in their original package or paper packaging can last about two to three years if they are in a cool dry place like your pantry.
The best way to store dry beans long term is to vacuum seal mylar bags with oxygen absorbers. Using this method dried beans can last 25-30 years or more.
Check the following to determine if your dried beans are still good:
Look for mold – if there is mold do not eat the beans
Check for bugs – Insects can contaminate dried beans in storage. It is generally safe to eat the dried beans after you remove the insects should you be in a dire situation.
Inspect the beans appearance – Discolored beans can be a sign they have spoiled.
Unusual Smells – Do the beans have a rancid smell?
How to Store Dried Beans Properly?
There are many ways to store dried beans and extend the minimum shelf life. When storing dried beans or any foods long term you must protect from the following:
Moisture
Oxygen
Pests
Sunlight
Extreme temperature fluctuations
This can be accomplished many ways. Some methods are better than others.
Mylar bags and oxygen absorbers
This is one of the best ways to store dried beans long term. Using this technique your beans can last for decades. For specific details on how to use oxygen absorbers for food storage check out our post.
Place your beans in a mylar bag.
Place the correct size oxygen absorber in the bag.
Vacuum seal the mylar bag.
Place the mylar bag in a bucket or other container to protect them.
Label your containers with the date they were packed.
Keep your sealed beans in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Glass jars or mason jars with oxygen absorbers
Another excellent method which can extend the shelf life of dried beans to 20+ years.
Place the dried beans in your jar.
Put the correct size oxygen absorber in the jar.
Vacuum seal the jar and place the lid.
Label your containers with the date they were packed.
Place your jars in a box, bucket or other container to protect them from breaking.
Store your sealed jars in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and extreme temperatures.
Air tight containers
You can store dried beans in many air tight containers. This can include:
plastic bags
Glass jars
Mason jars
Hard plastic containers
Vacuum sealer containers
Simply putting your dried beans in an air tight container will give you 2-3 years of good shelf life.
Freezing dried beans
You can stored dried beans in a freezer nearly indefinitely. The benefit of freezer storage is it will kill any insect eggs inside.
Place your dry beans in a air tight container
Label the packages
Place them in your freezer.
Vacuum Sealing Dry Beans
You can use a vacuum sealer to store dried beans. This will protect your beans from moisture and pests better than the original packaging. You can get 2-3 years shelf life using this method.
Place your beans in a vacuum sealer bag.
Vacuum seal them.
Label the package with the date they were sealed.
Tips for Softening Old Hard Dry Beans
The longer your dry beans are in storage the drier they will become. This will make cooking them a bit more difficult depending on their age.
Baking Soda Added to Soaking Water
Presoak your beans with a teaspoon of baking soda. It’s best to soak the beans for at least 8 hours or more in some circumstances.
Older beans will require a longer soak time to rehydrate.
Cooking Dried Beans
Cooking dried beans is pretty easy. The most important thing is to make sure you soak the beans enough.
Once the beans are hydrated then cook them prior to adding any additional ingredients.
Adding things like salt, sugar, or acidic ingredients before the beens are cooked can cause them to stay hard and not properly cook.
Slow Cooker
Using a slow cooker is a great way to cook bean especially if they have been in storage a long time. The low and slow heat will allow the beans enough time to become nice and tender.
Pressure Cook dry Beans
I love my instant pot for cooking many foods including beans. Cook dried beans in a pressure cooker like an instant pot. The pressure cooker is the best thing I’ve found when cooking especially old dried beans.
The steam and pressure will drive moisture into the beans leaving the most dry beans perfectly cooked.
