Food Old Beans

[Rabbit]

I was cleaning out a closet and found a bucket with packs of dry beans that I vacuum sealed about five years ago. They are Navy and Great Northern beans. Are they still good? My plan now is to can them if you all think it is worth the time and effort.

 

[moldy]

They're probably pretty hard if you just cook them the normal way. I canned up some 16 bean soup from 1999 last year, though, and it was delicious.

 

[coloradohermit]

I routinely can older beans. Soak overnight, change the water and boil 30 minutes then pressure can them. they come out soft enough and not mushy.

 

[4bears]

I routinely can older beans. Soak overnight, change the water and boil 30 minutes then pressure can them. they come out soft enough and not mushy.

I'm cooking Y2K pinto beans similar to the above. Lots of soaking and simmer until soft enough.

 

[Rabbit]

Thank you all.

 

[Illini Warrior]

I was cleaning out a closet and found a bucket with packs of dry beans that I vacuum sealed about five years ago. They are Navy and Great Northern beans. Are they still good? My plan now is to can them if you all think it is worth the time and effort.

"vacuum sealed" ???? .... if packed using the food grade bucket/locking lid - mylar bag - 02 absorbers the beans should be good upwards of 25-30 years - needing overnite soaking and pressure cooking as they reach that max age ...

even after that 30 years - there's reports of beans being ground into a flour for cooking & baking ....

at 5 years - should be like any bag of beans you would buy today at the store - long term storage starts at 5 years - anything under 5 years doesn't need any special packing other than pest & rodent protection ....

 

[Rabbit]

Update on the old beans.

I soaked them overnight and the water was darker than fresher beans, but I rinsed them off a few times and cooked them for 30 minutes before I canned them. Tonight I opened a jar and made a batch of pork and beans. They were excellent in taste and texture.

 

[Siskiyoumom]

We have twenty year old pintos that do not soften up with the stove top pressure cooker we use for chili making. I think I will try to grind them up in the blender and then rehydrate them with boiling water. I have red that bean flour can be used making biscuits and bread.

 

[Seeker22]

We have twenty year old pintos that do not soften up with the stove top pressure cooker we use for chili making. I think I will try to grind them up in the blender and then rehydrate them with boiling water. I have red that bean flour can be used making biscuits and bread.

Old beans like that go in the crockpot with the venison chili for a day and then I pressure can. Very good Chili con Carne. They are also good after that crockpot treatment, as refried beans. They can be old as Methuselah, but around my house they're still getting cooked and eaten. I made chili with beans from 2008 last year. Delish!

 

[anna43]

I prefer old beans for pressure canning. They hold their shape and do not get mushy which happens with fresh beans. I had some beans that I could not cook to eatable softness boiling, crockpot or pressure cooker yet when pressure canned they were perfect.

 

[20Gauge]

I routinely can older beans. Soak overnight, change the water and boil 30 minutes then pressure can them. they come out soft enough and not mushy.

Great idea. I have about 12-15 quarts of vacuum sealed beans that are about 7 years old. They are my desperation food.

 

[Illini Warrior]

Great idea. I have about 12-15 quarts of vacuum sealed beans that are about 7 years old. They are my desperation food.

7 years old isn't old for dry goods type foods - you don't even need to re-pack beans if you're using them within 5 years or so ...

 

[Illini Warrior]

We have twenty year old pintos that do not soften up with the stove top pressure cooker we use for chili making. I think I will try to grind them up in the blender and then rehydrate them with boiling water. I have red that bean flour can be used making biscuits and bread.

curious how you had them packed - even at 20 years the beans should have been edible ....