With winter coming up quickly, the thought of curling up with a hot bowl of soup is very soothing and comforting.
For others, though, making regular homemade soup might not be the easiest thing to do because of other things they have to do. But, what if there was a way to make homemade soup last longer?.
If you can safely store soup instead of eating it right away, you can make dinner or lunch quick and easy by just reheating soup! This gives people with busy lives a reason to take the time to make some delicious homemade cooked vegetable soup.
During this blog post, we will talk about how long you should keep soup in the fridge to get the most out of it. We will also talk about the best ways to store and freeze soup to make it last longer.
Don’t know how to cook? Don’t worry—you can use these helpful tips and tricks on store-bought soups too!
Proper Good sells healthy, nutritious soups that can be kept for a long time and are great for stocking your pantry or cupboard. It takes less than 90 seconds for Proper Good soups to be ready to eat, and they taste just as good as soups you make yourself.
These tasty soups don’t need to be kept in the fridge or freezer, so they’re great for taking with you when you travel.
Bean soup is a comforting and nutritious staple that many people love to prepare in bulk and enjoy throughout the week. But if you’ve ever opened a container of bean soup and wondered how long it will keep in the fridge, you’re not alone. Understanding the shelf life of leftover bean soup can help prevent waste and ensure safety.
An Overview of Bean Soup Storage
In general, an unopened can of bean soup has a shelf life of 2-5 years However, once opened, the clock starts ticking. The shelf life diminishes quickly once exposed to air and bacteria Proper storage and reheating methods help extend its life. But just how long does bean soup last after opening?
Here are some general guidelines:
- Homemade bean soup will last 3-4 days in the fridge.
- Canned bean soup keeps for 3-4 days after opening.
- Frozen bean soup, if properly stored in airtight packaging, will last 4-6 months.
However, there are many factors that affect how long bean soup lasts, which we’ll explore in detail below.
How Storage Method Impacts Shelf Life
To get the maximum shelf life out of bean soup once opened, proper storage is key. Here are some storage tips:
- Refrigerate promptly after opening or cooking. Don’t leave bean soup out more than 2 hours.
- Use airtight containers for homemade soups, sealing out air and preventing freezer burn.
- Freeze in serving portions so you can thaw just what you need.
- Seal opened canned soup and store in the fridge.
With optimal storage methods, you can extend the shelf life by several days to weeks.
The Role of Ingredients and Preservatives
What’s actually in the bean soup impacts how long it stays fresh. Here are some factors:
- Precooked vs. dried beans – Canned soup with precooked beans lasts longer than soup made with dried beans.
- Preservatives – Canned bean soup contains preservatives to prolong shelf life. Homemade lacks preservatives unless added.
- Salt and acid content – Ingredients like tomatoes and broth help inhibit bacterial growth.
- Fat content – Soups with meat and cream spoil faster than low-fat vegetable soups.
So while homemade soup without preservatives has the shortest life, canned soup can safely last a bit longer thanks to added chemicals and salt.
Identifying Spoiled Bean Soup
How can you tell if bean soup has gone bad and needs to be discarded? Here are signs your soup has spoiled:
- Change in texture – Extremely thick soup or a slimy, stringy consistency indicates spoilage.
- Mold – Fuzzy mold spots mean throw the soup away immediately.
- Discoloration – Grey, green, or blue hues from bacterial growth.
- Curdling – Milk-based soups can curdle and separate after some days.
- Strange smell – Rancid, sour, or unpleasant odors mean the soup has spoiled.
- Off taste – An acidic, bitter, or funky taste is a red flag. When in doubt, throw it out.
Trust your senses – foul smells, bad texture, visible mold, and unappetizing taste all signal that your bean soup has exceeded its shelf life.
Frequently Asked Questions
To safely enjoy bean soup, get answers to these common questions:
Can you freeze bean soup? Yes, freezing prolongs the shelf life significantly. Refrigerate first, then seal tightly in a freezer bag or airtight container.
Can you reheat bean soup? Yes, you can safely reheat previously cooked bean soup. Bring it to at least 165°F. Only reheat once.
How do you store an opened can of bean soup? Transfer leftover canned soup to an airtight container in the fridge. Use within 3-4 days.
Is it safe to eat bean soup past the expiration date? It’s not recommended to eat bean soup after its printed expiration date. Even unopened, quality and safety decline over time.
Can you add vegetables or cream to bean soup? Yes, but this shortens the shelf life. Use added ingredients within a couple days.
With proper refrigeration and freezing methods, bean soup can retain its quality and taste for days beyond initial opening. But take care not to keep leftovers too long. When in doubt, remember it’s far better to be safe than sick with spoiled bean soup.
The Bottom Line
To summarize, an opened can or freshly cooked pot of bean soup will last:
- 3-4 days in the refrigerator
- 4-6 months in the freezer
Practice food safety by refrigerating leftovers within 2 hours and looking for signs of spoilage like texture changes, smell, appearance, and taste. The shelf life depends largely on the specific ingredients, storage method, and handling after opening. With optimal storage and frequent consumption, bean soup can be safely enjoyed throughout the week after opening. Just take care not to exceed the limited life of any leftover soup.
Can You Refrigerate Soup Before Freezing It?
Yes! The soup should be cooled down from piping hot before it is frozen to keep it at its best and stop bacteria from growing.
Most soups can only last in a refrigerator for 3 to 4 days until they risk going bad, so make sure you place your cooled vegetable soup promptly in the freezer before this point.
Make sure your soup lasts well by placing it in an airtight freezer-safe container. If your freezer is packed full, avoid spilling the soup by separating it into smaller containers. This will also make reheating easier because you won’t have to heat up the whole soup. Instead, you can heat up pieces of it.
Zero Prep- 90 Second Meals:
After a busy or challenging day, cooking dinner is the last thing you want to do. Fast food is very bad for you, so Proper Good came up with a tasty and healthy alternative! Each Proper Good meal only takes 90 seconds to make!
There is a range of diet-friendly options!
Check out our high fat, low carb keto packs.
Our plant-based bestsellers are nourishing and warming.
We also cater to dairy-free diets with our range of fulfilling soups and hearty broths!
We have this delicious 6 pack for those who are gluten-free.
We have low-sodium meals and a blog post that can help you pick the best low-sodium soups for you.