Canned beans are a pantry staple valued for their convenience and long shelf life. Whether you’re whipping up a pot of chili, taco night, or a veggie burrito bowl, cans of beans are a handy ingredient to keep stocked. But when a recipe calls for beans by the cup, how do you figure out the equivalent from a can? Let’s take a look at the typical can sizes for beans and how they convert to cups for easy meal planning.
Common Bean Can Sizes
Beans are sold in a few general can sizes:
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15 oz can – The most standard and popular size. Typically used for black beans kidney beans garbanzo beans, etc.
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15 oz organic can – Same volume as above but containing organic beans.
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16 oz can – Typically used for refried beans. Slightly larger.
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29-30 oz can – Larger, family-sized cans. Often used for baked beans.
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#10 can – Very large commercial cans holding 109 oz. Popular for pinto beans.
How Many Cups in a 15 oz Can of Beans?
The 15 oz size is the can you’ll see most often for beans like:
- Black beans
- Kidney beans
- Cannellini beans
- Garbanzo/chickpeas
Once drained, a 15 oz can contains approximately 1 1⁄2 cups of beans. This holds true across most bean varieties.
For example, if a chili recipe calls for 2 cups of kidney beans, you’ll need approximately:
- 1 (15 oz) can = 1 1⁄2 cups
- 1 additional 1⁄2 cup kidney beans
So 2 smaller cans add up to the needed 2 cups.
Conversions for Other Can Sizes
Use these bean can conversions for cup measurements:
- 16 oz can of refried beans = 1 3⁄4 cups
- 29-30 oz can = 3 cups
- #10 can (109 oz commercial size) = 10-12 cups
Canning causes beans to plump up, so 1 cup of dried beans yields 2-3 cups cooked. Follow individual package instructions.
Tips for Measuring Canned Bean Cups
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Drain and rinse beans before measuring cups. This removes excess liquid.
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For partial cups, spoon beans into a dry measuring cup and level off.
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1⁄2 cup of beans is approximately one small fistful or palm-size amount.
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Bean measurements are based on volume, not weight. Don’t rely on a kitchen scale.
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Give beans a rough chop after draining for more uniform cup measurements.
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For recipes specifying bean amounts by weight, use these general conversions:
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15 oz can, drained = approximately 9 oz by weight
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16 oz can, drained = approximately 10 oz
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29-30 oz can, drained = approximately 19 oz
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Canned Bean Equivalents for Dried Beans
Here are some common equivalents if substituting canned for dried beans:
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1 pound dried beans = 5-6 cups cooked beans
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15 oz can beans = approximately 1 1⁄2 cups cooked beans
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16 oz can beans = approximately 1 3⁄4 cups cooked beans
So for example, a 16 oz can of refried beans can replace about 1/3 to 1⁄2 pound of dried pinto beans after cooking and mashing.
Tips for Cooking with Canned Beans
Canned beans offer convenience, but here are some tips for working with them:
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Give canned beans a quick rinse to remove excess sodium and slime.
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Saute or simmer rinsed beans in recipes for better flavor.
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If swapping canned for dried, reduce any added liquids to account for bean canning liquid.
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For creamier texture in soups, dips, etc., puree a portion of the cooked beans.
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If time allows, simmering rinsed canned beans in broth boosts flavor.
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To reduce sodium, opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added bean options.
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Look for BPA-free cans, especially for beans eaten daily like garbanzos.
Get Creative with Canned Beans!
With so many options—black, pinto, cannellini, chickpeas, and more—canned beans make it easy to whip up balanced meals. Here are some tasty ways to put them to use:
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Mash beans into dips and spreads like hummus, black bean dip, or white bean bruschetta.
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Puree them into soups for thickness and protein.
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Toss whole beans into leafy salads for added nutrition.
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Mix beans into rice or quinoa pilafs for a complete protein.
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Make veggie bean patties, falafels, or croquettes.
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Add beans to pasta, bowls, buddha bowls, burritos, enchiladas, and more!
So next time a recipe calls for canned beans, use these handy conversions to confidently measure out the right bean cup amounts. Adjust cooking liquid and seasonings, and enjoy your beans in delicious new ways!
Measurements
Use these helpful average conversions and general rules of thumb to measure dried beans:
- One pound of dried beans is equal to two cups of them.
- About 6 cups of cooked beans from 1 pound of dried beans
- 1 part dry beans = 3 parts cooked beans
- 1 cup dried beans = 3 cups of cooked beans
- 1/3 cup dried beans = 1 cup of cooked beans
These general rules are a good place to start, but they change depending on the size of the bean. When cooked, bigger beans like pinto and lima beans give you a little less, while smaller beans like garbanzo and navy beans give you more. Remember that when you cook dried beans, they more than double in size and weight. Most of the time, you should be able to guess how much you need.
Conversions and Equivalents
Remember these tips for bean equivalents:
- Half a cup of dried beans is equal to one 15-ounce can of beans.
- One 15-ounce can of beans is equal to 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans that have been drained.
- 1 1/2 pounds dried beans = one #10 can of cooked beans (109 ounces).
Canned beans are the same as cooked beans, so it’s usually better to cook dried beans first before measuring them for a recipe that calls for canned beans.
If the recipe calls for exact amounts, you should always cook and drain the dried beans before measuring them. You can use the average amounts as a rough guide to figure out how many dried beans you need. Many bean recipes are fairly forgiving and adjustable. But to get the right balance in a three-bean salad or a pot of mixed bean soup, you may need to make some changes to the amounts of canned and dried beans so that one bean doesn’t take over the dish.
How many cups is a 14 oz can of beans?
FAQ
How many cups is a 16 oz can of beans?
What is the dry bean equivalent of a 15 oz can?
How much is 2 cups of beans?
How many cups are in a 14.5 oz can of beans?
How many cups in a can of dried beans?
One 15-ounce can of drained canned beans equals 1 1/2 cups of drained cooked dried beans.
How many cans of dried beans are in a can?
Large beans will be on the low side of these measurements while small beans will have a slightly higher yield. 1 cup dried beans = 2-3 cups cooked beans = 1 ½ 15.5 ounce cans One 15.5 ounce can of beans = 1 ½ cups cooked = ¾-to-1 cup dried 1 lbs. of dried beans = 2-2 ½ cups dried = 4-5 cups cooked = 3-4 15.5 oz. cans
How many cups of beans are in a standard can?
In a standard can of beans, you can typically expect about 1.5 to 2 cups of beans once they are drained and rinsed. This amount can vary depending on the type of beans and the brand.
How much dried beans are in a 15 oz can?
According to the Kitchen Companion, a terrific general handbook which I recommend, 1 lb (about 2 cups) of dried beans is roughly 6 to 7 cups cooked beans, and one 15oz can of cooked beans is roughly 1.75 cups drained, making it equivalent to 1/4 to 1/ 3 lbs (or 1/2 to 3 /4 cup) dried.