Enough is enough. It’s finally time to use those bags of dried beans that have been sitting in the cupboard for too long. You bought them years ago for a reason, whether you dreamed about chili or black bean burgers. But are they still safe to eat? How long can you store dried beans?.
We’ve got the answer. These tough little gems can last ten years if you know how to keep them.
Cannellini beans are a pantry staple in many homes. Their creamy texture and mild flavor make them perfect for soups, stews, salads, and more. While fresh cannellini beans only last a few days in the fridge, the dried version can be stored for years if properly stored. Read on to learn everything you need to know about maximizing the shelf life of dried cannellini beans.
Storing Dried Cannellini Beans
The key to keeping dried cannellini beans fresh for as long as possible is cool, dark storage. Heat, light, and moisture are the enemies of shelf-stable foods. Follow these tips for ideal storage:
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Keep beans in airtight containers or resealable bags This prevents moisture from getting in and making them stale
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Store in a cool, dark cupboard or pantry. Avoid warm spots like near the oven or fridge exhaust.
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Avoid humidity. If you live in a humid climate, consider storing beans in the fridge for longer freshness.
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Transfer beans from paper or cardboard packaging. These are porous and allow humidity in.
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Keep beans away from light, which speeds up oxidation reactions. Use opaque containers.
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Buy beans from stores with good product turnover for maximum freshness. Check expiration dates.
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Buy only amounts you will use within a few years and avoid bulk bins with old product
Following these guidelines, unopened dried cannellini beans can last 2-3 years at room temperature with good quality. Once opened, they may start declining in 1-2 years. Refrigeration can extend life by a year or so.
How To Tell If Dried Cannellini Beans Are Still Good
It’s easy to tell if your dried cannellini beans have gone bad through sight and smell:
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Look for changes in appearance. Good beans should be uniformly colored. Watch for excessive darkening, unusual softness or texture, holes from insects, or visible mold.
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Smell for unpleasant, bitter odors. Fresh beans have a mild, nutty, starchy scent. Rancid beans will smell stale, musty, or rotten.
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Taste rehydrated beans to check the flavor. They should taste mild and fresh without bitterness or off-flavors.
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Check for weevils or insects. Small holes or actual bugs mean infestation. Discard any beans with insects inside.
As long as there are no signs of spoilage, dried cannellini beans stay safe to eat for years past any “best by” date, though their quality declines over time. Rinse and sort through beans before cooking to remove any discolored or damaged ones.
Expected Shelf Life of Dried Cannellini Beans
With ideal storage conditions, here is how long you can expect dried cannellini beans to last and remain tasty:
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Unopened package: Up to 3 years past any “best by” date.
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Opened package: 1-2 years at room temperature.
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Refrigerated after opening: Up to 3 years.
The shelf life depends heavily on actual storage conditions. With less than ideal conditions like heat, humidity, or light exposure, dried beans will deteriorate faster.
Trust your eyes and nose to make the final call on whether older beans are still good quality. Cook up a small test batch if uncertain. As long as they rehydrate, cook through tender, and taste good, the beans are still perfectly safe to enjoy.
Reviving Older Dried Cannellini Beans
What if you discover an old bag of dried cannellini beans in the back of the pantry? Before tossing them, try these tricks to revive older beans:
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Sort and rinse to remove any damaged, discolored or broken beans, stones, dirt, or debris.
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Soak beans overnight or use a quick soak method. The hydration process helps revive older beans.
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Change the soaking water once or twice to flush away indigestible oligosaccharides that build up over time. This improves digestibility.
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Add acid like lemon juice, vinegar, or tomato to the cooking liquid. Acid helps soften beans’ tough cell walls.
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Cook beans thoroughly until very tender. Older beans take longer to rehydrate and soften.
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Season generously with herbs, spices, vegetables and oils to mask any stale flavors.
With a little extra care, you can still enjoy older dried cannellini beans. But if they remain stubbornly tough, split, or taste off even after prolonged cooking, it’s safest to compost them and start fresh.
Cooked Cannellini Beans In Fridge Or Freezer
Once dried cannellini beans are cooked, they become perishable and require refrigeration. Here’s how long they keep:
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Cooked beans in bean broth: 3-4 days
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Cooked beans in sauce: 4-5 days
For longer storage, cooked beans freeze well for 4-6 months. Portion beans with liquid into airtight freezer containers, leaving 1-inch headspace. Thaw in fridge before using.
Get The Most From Your Dried Cannellini Beans
With proper dry storage, dried cannellini beans can stay fresh for years. Follow best practices for storage and use sight, smell and taste to determine if older beans are still good. A few extra steps can help revive and extend the shelf life of beans. Keeping them dry, cool, and dark is the key to maximizing freshness.
How To Keep Dried Beans Fresh
Officially, dried beans have a minimum shelf life of one to two years, per the USDA. Unofficially, they last…basically forever. Dried beans are considered non-perishable. After two to three years, the nutritional value starts diminishing, and all vitamins will be gone after five. (Warm storage temperatures will speed up that quality decrease, too.) But that doesn’t mean you couldn’t cook and eat them after 10 years if you really wanted to.
As long as they were kept in a cool, dry, dark place, dried beans are probably safe, though they might look different and lose some of their nutritional value. A tightly-sealed container will help the beans keep longer than the plastic bags they often come in. Also, keep your different kinds of beans separate so that one bad bunch doesn’t ruin the rest.
How To Tell If Dried Beans *actually* Went Bad
Throw away any beans that smell bad, have mold on them, or are full of pantry bugs. Then, add a new bag to your list of things to buy. Moisture likely got into the bag or container, leading to their demise. The less oxygen and light, the better. If your beans are only slightly discolored, don’t throw them away. This is normal and doesn’t mean they’re past their prime.
If you have seriously aged beans on your hands that need a little extra love, a ¼ teaspoon of baking soda per pound might help them soften, according to The Bean Institute.
Soaking Cannellini Beans – Martha Stewart’s Cooking School – Martha Stewart
FAQ
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