Need a quick and easy baked bean recipe that the whole family will love? This old-fashioned pork and beans recipe is easy to make and takes canned pork and beans to the next level.
Baked beans are a classic comfort food that are often served at summer barbecues and potlucks. Their rich, sweet and tangy flavor makes them a crowd-pleasing side dish. However, baked beans can take hours to make from scratch. With their labor-intensive preparation, you may wonder if you can make baked beans in advance.
The short answer is yes! Baked beans can successfully be made ahead of time with proper storage. Here is everything you need to know about making baked beans ahead of time and how to store them properly.
How Baked Beans Are Made
To understand how to make baked beans in advance, it helps to first look at what goes into making them. Baked beans start with dried beans, traditionally navy beans, that are soaked to rehydrate them. They are then simmered in sauce for multiple hours until the beans become very soft and absorb the sauce’s flavor.
A typical baked bean sauce contains ingredients like
- Tomato paste or diced tomatoes
- Molasses or brown sugar
- Mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Onions, garlic, spices
- Salt and pepper
- Vinegar or lemon juice
The lengthy cooking time often 2-4 hours, allows the sauce to permeate the beans fully and gives them their signature soft creamy texture. Once the beans are cooked, the sauce is sometimes thickened slightly before serving.
Can You Prepare Them Ahead of Time?
Because baked beans require an extensive cooking time, they are the perfect candidate for make-ahead meals. You can prepare a batch of baked beans in advance and store them properly until ready to serve.
Here are some tips for preparing baked beans ahead:
-
Make a double batch. Baked beans freeze well, so making extra allows you to store half for later.
-
Let the beans cool completely before storing. Don’t transfer piping hot beans straight into the refrigerator.
-
Transfer cooled beans to airtight containers. Glass or plastic containers with tight-fitting lids work best.
-
Refrigerate beans if using within 3-5 days. Freeze for longer storage.
-
Baked beans can be refrigerated for up to 4-5 days. Freeze for 1-3 months for best quality.
-
Allow frozen beans to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
As long as you cool, store, and reheat the beans properly, pre-made baked beans will taste fresh and flavorful. The sauce may need a touch more liquid after reheating if it has thickened up.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for successfully making ahead and storing baked beans:
1. Prepare the Beans
Make your baked bean recipe as you normally would. Be sure to cook the beans until very soft – this can take 2 hours or more. Let the beans cool completely, about 1 hour.
2. Transfer to Airtight Containers
Divide beans between airtight containers, leaving 1-inch headspace. Plastic freezer-safe containers or mason jars work well.
3. Refrigerate or Freeze
For short term storage, refrigerate beans for 3-5 days. For longer storage, freeze beans for 1-3 months.
4. Reheat Thoroughly Before Serving
When ready to serve, thaw frozen beans overnight in the fridge. Reheat beans in a saucepan over medium-low heat until warmed through, 15-20 minutes. Add a bit of water if the sauce has thickened.
Storage Times for Baked Beans
Here is a quick overview of how long baked beans will last under different storage conditions:
-
At room temperature: 2 hours
-
Refrigerated: 3-5 days
-
Frozen: 1-3 months
Remember to never leave baked beans sit out for over 2 hours before refrigerating or freezing. Leftover beans also need proper storage within 2 hours.
Tips for Freezing Baked Beans
Freezing is the best long-term storage method for cooked baked beans. Here are some freezing tips:
-
Let beans cool completely before freezing, about 1 hour.
-
Use freezer-safe airtight containers, allowing 1-inch headspace.
-
Flatten freezer bags to remove excess air before sealing.
-
Portion beans into single servings if desired for easy reheating.
-
Add a freezer date label to track shelf life.
-
Avoid freezing and thawing beans more than once, as this affects quality.
With proper freezing techniques, baked beans will retain their texture and flavor for months after being thawed and reheated.
Can You Prepare the Baked Bean Sauce Ahead?
Besides preparing fully cooked beans, another option is to make the sauce itself ahead. Then all you need to do is simmer the beans in the pre-made sauce when ready to serve.
To make baked bean sauce in advance:
-
Prepare sauce up to 2 days in advance.
-
Let sauce cool before transferring to airtight containers.
-
Store in the refrigerator until needed.
-
When ready, pour over soaked, drained beans and bake as usual.
Making the sauce ahead saves time when preparing the final dish. Just be sure to boil the sauce before using to kill any bacteria that may have developed during storage.
Signs Your Baked Beans Have Spoiled
To avoid food poisoning when reheating pre-made baked beans, check for these signs of spoilage first:
-
Unpleasant sour odor
-
Bean texture is overly mushy/soft
-
Presence of mold on beans or in sauce
-
Any change in color from what the beans originally looked like
-
Strange flavor when tasting beans after reheating
Avoid eating baked beans showing any of these signs of spoilage. When in doubt, throw them out.
Enjoy the Convenience of Make-Ahead Baked Beans
Preparing baked beans ahead of time and storing them properly allows you to enjoy their delicious flavor without spending hours at the stove. Just be diligent about cooling beans completely before refrigerating or freezing and use airtight containers.
With the proper storage methods, you can safely store baked bean dishes for days or even months. Now your next barbecue or potluck just got a whole lot easier!
How to make Baked Beans with pork and beans
We’re combining all our ingredients in one of two vessels. If you’re baking these in the oven, you’ll need a casserole dish.
- Step 1: Okay, we’re going to use a big can of beans and spice it up with some seasonings and spices. Bacon, of course. You can add more bacon if you want, but my recipe only calls for two slices. In the pan go chopped onion, yellow mustard that has been made, molasses, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce.
- Step 2: Put foil over it and bake it for 90 minutes.
The recipe is super easy, right? I promise it’s easier to make than it is to pronounce Worcestershire.
Why you’ll love this recipe
It’s summertime, which means potluck dishes like creamy potato salad and Amish pasta salad are at their best.
We all want to bring a tasty dish to a party or potluck, but sometimes we need quick and easy side dish recipes.
Because, if you’re like me, you don’t always have the mood or time to cook from scratch
But no one has to know our little secret. You can still bring a unique dish with sweet and sour beans that will wow your family and friends.
For years, my mom brought this recipe to family reunions and summer picnics, and she gave it to me.
Tip: For another variation try this cowboy baked beans recipe and hamburger baked beans.
Baked beans are a classic summer dish, don’t you think?
You can eat them by themselves or as a side dish. They’re great for BBQs and picnics. And lucky for us, baked beans are also relatively easy to make!.
- bacon chopped and pre-cooked
- pork and beans in a can—the main thing is, of course, the beans I betcha saw that one coming. The pork and beans you buy at the store might have navy beans, pinto beans, or great northern beans in them, depending on the type.
- onion
- yellow mustard—Mustard cuts down on the sweetness of the brown sugar and molasses.
- molasses
- light brown sugar
- I use Worcestershire sauce a lot, but I can’t say it.
Then theyre baked in the oven until theyre brown and bubbly. In this instance, I’m giving you the choice of the oven or the slow cooker.
The Ultimate Baked Beans Recipe
FAQ
Can you make beans ahead of time?
How long can you keep uncooked baked beans in the fridge?
|
SKU
|
50021
|
|
Brand
|
Other
|
|
Country of Origin
|
Rest of the World
|
|
Storage Instructions
|
Store in a cool, dry place. Once opened, Replace the cap and keep refrigerated for up to 5 days.
|
Do baked beans reheat well?
Can you make baked beans ahead of time and freeze?
Can you make baked beans ahead of time?
Baked beans contain perishable ingredients like soaked beans, broth or vegetable stock, sauces, herbs, and seasonings. You can make this dish ahead of time, but it will not hold up for more than a few hours at room temperature.
What is the best way to eat beans?
The best way to eat beans is to first cook them in a large pot of water, about 4 cups of water to every 1 cup of beans. Adding lemon grass or other herbs to the water can improve the flavor. Once beans are cooked the best thing to do is combine them with cooked rice, this is because beans are low in methionine and rice is low in lysine, so combining them makes a more complete protein.
How long should baked beans sit before cooking?
Let it rest: It helps to let the baked beans sit for 5-10 minutes after they come out of the oven. It helps them set up a bit so they are saucy but not runny. Double or triple: You can certainly double or triple this recipe if you need more baked beans for a big crowd.
Can you make baked beans the night before?
Yes, you can make these baked beans the night before you plan to serve them. Just omit topping the beans with bacon until you are ready to put the dish in the oven. Bake beans for 45 minutes at 350°F or until bubbly. If you have leftover baked beans, scoop them into an airtight container, or wrap the baking dish with storage wrap.