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How To Properly Store Beans
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by: SusanneM.
Total views: 12
Word Count: 443
I always keep a variety of dried beans and other legumes like lentils and split peas around. They are a great source of protein, and keep for quite some time if stored properly. They come in handy when I need a filling meal but don't want to drive to the store.
Dried beans are also very economical. Since they contain plenty of protein, the are a good meat substitute. Since the price of meat (and almost everything else) has gone up quite a bit lately, I can keep our grocery budget under control by making more meals that use dried beans as a base.
That of course brings up the question of how to properly store these dried beans. Most stores sell them in one, two or 5 pound plastic bags. I like to bring my beans home, take them out of the bag and sort them.
The easiest way to sort beans is to spread them out on a table or large cookie sheet. This will allow you to quickly pick through them and take out any beans that don't look right and of course any little rock that may have gotten in there. Not it's time to find a permanent storage container for the beans. Glass jars or plastic containers with tight fitting lids are both good options as are plastic bags that will close. You main goal is to keep your beans as dry as possible. Once you've found an appropriate container, store them on a shelf in your pantry or a kitchen cabinet until you are ready to use them.
Dry beans are best stored at room temperature, so don't put them in your fridge or freezer or they will go bad before you have a chance to use them.
Don't forget to properly label your container after you add the beans to it. Many varieties of beans look pretty similar. I like to not the type of bean as well as the date when I bought them. This allows me to use the older ones first when I have more than one container of beans on the shelf.
Take a look at the bag your beans came in originally. Sometimes you will see some cooking tips and recipes printed on there. If you find the information useful, write it down and keep it in a cookbook or with your beans.
I keep quite a few different varieties of beans around, but we also eat them quite frequently. Because of this beans don't usually sit in my pantry for more than a year. But it's good to know that they will last for about 30 years properly stored.
About the Author
I like to keep some dry chick peas in my kitchen cabinet to whip up some chick pea hummus or these simple chick pea tacos when unexpected guests stop by.
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