Beans are considered one of the ultimate emergency foods because they are nutritious and non-perishable. However, if stored incorrectly, the beans will spoil. What you need to know: Do dried beans go bad? It turns out that these durable little gems can last a full decade if you know how to store them. Here’s what you need to know about the long-term storage of beans.
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Do Dried Beans Go Bad?
Dried beans won’t really expire or go bad if stored properly, but they won’t retain the same quality forever. After a few years, you may notice that they don’t taste as good, and after about 5 years, most of the vitamin content is gone.
In other words, if you want to get the most out of your dried beans, consider throwing them away after 2 to 3 years of storage. This is when they start to lose their vitamins.
If you’re less worried about vitamins, you can keep them for years so they’re safe to eat.
Why Dry Beans Go Bad
Like all dry foods, beans are sensitive to oxygen, light, humidity, and heat. Oxygen is of particular concern because it can cause the natural fats in beans to degrade, causing them to go rancid. Beans can also get moldy in areas with high humidity.
Even though the beans are safe to eat, exposure to oxygen and light can cause the beans to lose their nutrients. After only 2 years, the vitamin degrades significantly, and after 5 years the vitamin is almost non-existent. However, the protein and mineral content of the beans will remain intact.
How Long Can You Store Dry Beans?
Properly stored dried beans are safe to eat indefinitely, but after 2 to 3 years of storage, the vitamin content begins to decline. After 3 to 5 years, the flavor starts to get progressively worse and your roasted beans may not be as good as you’re used to.
If you have a best due date (not due date anyway), just add a year or two to that date for the best quality.
The longer the beans are stored, the worse the quality. But in most cases, even beans over 5 years old will work fine.
Some time ago my wife cooked baked beans with beans in the cupboard for who knows how long and it turned out to be delicious. Your “old” black, white, or kidney beans will most likely still work.
How to Tell If Dried Beans Are Bad
There are pantry bugs in the bag or container. If you can find any weevils or other pests, dead or alive, the beans are done.
- Beans smell bad. A rancid, sour, or foul smell (in any other way) is definitely a sign that you need a new box.
- There is mold in the container. This is rare, but if it does happen, you know what to do. There are pantry bugs in the bag or container. If you can find any weevils or other pests, dead or alive, the beans are done.
How To Store Dried Beans
Dried beans are shelf stable and you should store them in a cool, dark, and dry place. Dark cabinets in the kitchen or pantry are perfect for this purpose. To protect them from bugs and moisture, make sure they are tightly sealed.
These guidelines apply to popular varieties of beans, such as white, black, and kidney beans, but also to less popular varieties, such as navy or chickpeas.
Dried beans go through a long drying process. Of these, most of the moisture has been removed. Because of this, these beans are shelf-stable and maintain their quality for a long time.
In terms of storage, they really don’t need that much. Like other dry products like dried lentils or dried pasta, you just need to remember to keep them in a cool, dark, and dry place.
In most cases, dried beans are sold in bulk. Generally, you can keep them intact in a plastic bag, especially if you plan to use them within a few months, maybe even a year.
For long-term storage, an airtight container or freezer bag will be a better choice.
If you bring a freezer bag, remember to squeeze out all the air before tying the freezer bag.
A tightly-sealed bag or container can protect beans from pantry bugs and moisture.
Both of these options are better than open plastic bags because they restrict the entry of air into the beans, which can cause soy oil to rancid.
For extra points, you can place an oxygen inhaler in a bag or container, or seal it with a vacuum. But this only makes sense if you plan to store the beans for more than 10 years.
Summary
Dried beans won’t expire or go bad if stored properly, but that doesn’t mean they’ll last forever. After about 5 years, most of the vitamins are gone, but the quality remains quite long. If you did everything right, your 10-year-old dried beans should still be edible. Maybe not as tasty, but definitely safe to eat.
How long can dry beans last? Dried beans retain their best quality for 2 to 3 years, but stay good for more than twice as long. As long as you keep them out of moisture and pantry bugs, they’ll last and won’t change much in quality.