How to Cook & Freeze Dry Beans

How to Cook & Freeze Dry Beans

There's one sure fire way to cut you grocery bill by a good amount, switching from prepared foods to their dried counterparts.  Looking for  an easy and great place to start?  It's all beans, baby!

Are Dried or Canned Beans Cheaper?

Dried beans average at least half to two-thirds of the price of reconstituted (canned) beans.  Let's look at some numbers:

One can of beans(15.5 oz): $1.00 to 1.25(approximately)

One pound of dry beans: $1.75 to $2.00(approximately)

Amount of beans per can: 1 1/2 Cups(Some say 2 cups, some say 1 1/2 after drained)

Amount of beans per pound-cooked: about 7 cups(about 3 1/2 cans)

As you can see, dry beans are a lot cheaper then canned.  If you can buy dry beans at bulk store or discount store, such as Aldi, your savings will be even higher.  I buy pinto beans regularly at Aldi.  They cost $1.99 for 2 lbs.

 

 Other Benefits of Dried Beans

1. Dried beans often store better than canned, and if kept in a cool, dark place, keep good for up to a year or more. If you open a package or buy in bulk, make sure to place them in an airtight container.
2. They take up less space. Dried beans fill one-third of the space as a can.  
3. They are healthier.  Take a look at this information from U.S. Department of Agriculture:

• 1 cup of canned navy beans has 296 calories, 20 g of protein, 1 g of fat, 54 g of carbohydrates, 13 g of fiber and 1174 mg of sodium. Significant micronutrients in this serving include 162 mcg of folate, 5 mg of iron, 123 mg of magnesium, 351 mg of phosphorous and 755 mg of potassium.  
• By comparison, the same 1-cup serving of boiled dried navy beans without added salt has 255 calories, 1 g of fat, 15 g of protein, 47 g of carbohydrates, 19 grams of fiber and 0 mg of sodium. Micronutrients include 255 mcg of folate, 4 mg of iron, 96 mg of magnesium, 262 mg of phosphorous and 708 mg of potassium.

 

How to Cook & Freeze Dried Beans

Recipes vary by bean variety, but here are some general rules. Keep in mind that one cup of dried beans will yield about two cups of cooked beans.

Step 1:  Pick Over

 This means that you lay them out (I usually do this step in a long, flat Tupperware container) and pick through them, looking for rocks, stones and dried, withered and discolored beans, then discard. If you find that you're picking out MOST of your beans during this process, then chances are your batch is old.

Step 2: Soaking

Soak the beans overnight in triple the water.  Example:  For one cup of dry beans use 3 cups of water.  Cover and let soak for 8 hours.  I soak mine overnight.

Step 3: Cooking

Stove top Method:

1. First look for any beans that float to the top overnight.  Discard these.  Drain the beans from the water they were soaked in.  Place beans in a pot.
2. Cover with fresh water.  About 2 inches above the beans.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover with lid partially and cook until tender (usually takes at least an hour).

Crockpot Method:

1. First look for any beans that float to the top overnight.  Discard these.  Drain the beans from the water they were soaked in.  Place beans in the crockpot.
2. Cover with fresh water.  About 2 inches above the beans. 
3. Place lid on crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours.

Step 4: Prepare to Store or Freeze

1. When beans are finished cooking drain them.
2. If storing in the refrigerator, pack beans into airtight containers for up to 4 to 5 days.  Refrigerate them within 1 hour.
3. If storing in the freezer, allow to cool completely.  Then pack desired amount of beans into freezer bags or containers.  Label and freeze for 2 to 3 months.

Cooking dried beans in the crockpot is my favorite way to do it.  My hands on time is very low.  For 1 pound of beans, I spend about 10 minutes picking them over and about another 10 minutes cooking & packing them.  For a mere 20 minutes of work, I have a cost efficient & healthy protein to add to meals or recipes!

Want to print this recipe without the pictures?  Try my newly added Print Friendly option at the bottom of this post!

Have questions about preparing dried beans?  Let me a comment below!

Live Frugal. Live Happy.