Can you freeze kidney beans

Whether you are using canned kidney beans or meal planning and cooking dried kidney beans in bulk, you do not have to worry about the leftovers or storing them.

It is very easy and convenient to freeze kidney beans for months and use them as needed. It saves time, effort, and also avoids food wastage.

Pressure cooked rajma beans in a container.

Preparation

Soak beans: It is preferred to rinse and soak the bean for 8-10 hours to get rid of any dirt, ensure the beans are good and will cook well, and also reduce the overall cooking time.
Cook beans: Cook the beans using your favorite method using a pressure cooker or a slow cooker. Discard the water and let the beans cool down completely.
Canned beans: If you plan to freeze canned beans, drain and rinse them thoroughly to remove sodium and packing liquid.

Soak the kidney beans and cook them.

Drain the water and portion the kidney beans into containers.

Freezing kidney beans

Portion: Once the cooked kidney beans cool down completely, portion the beans into freezer-friendly airtight containers or zip-lock bags.
Sizes: Divide the beans into about 8 oz, 16 oz, 25 oz, or 40 oz portions. these are the sizes of canned beans that many recipes will use.
Label: Label the contents of the container with "canned kidney beans" or "cooked kidney beans", quantity, and date. This will be very handy in the future as you don't have to open containers to see what is inside it.
Package: Leave some space in the containers to allow it to expand after freezing. Also remove as much air as possible from the ziplock bags.

Storage options

Sandwich size Zip-lock bags are great for small batches used to add to soups and salads.
Airtight containers made with plastic, silicone, or glass can be used. It is best to use reusable containers.

How to defrost frozen kidney beans?

Refrigerator: Place the container overnight in the refrigerator, this works great if you are not in a hurry.
Room temperature: Place the container at room temperature for 1-2 hours until it defrosts completely.
Quick thaw: Microwave the frozen beans on the defrost setting or place the container in warm water for 10-15 minutes until they thaw.

How to use frozen kidney beans

Soups: Thawed kidney beans can directly be added to soups while cooking.
Salads: Defrosted kidney beans can be added to salads.
Curries: Indian curries like rajma masala or dal makhani can be made with kidney beans.
Burrito: Stuff them into burritos, tacos, or bowls for your Mexican dinners.

Duration

Kidney beans can be stored in the freezer upto 6 months. It is best to label and date the containers and use older batches first.

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