How to Store Beans: 4 Tips for Storing Beans

Beans are the seeds from different plants in the *Fabaceae* family, also known as the bean, legume, or pea family. Beans are a hearty source of protein, and you can cook them in several ways, including [stewing](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bean-stew-recipe), [baking](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/baked-beans-recipe), and frying. Popular beans include black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, split peas, and lentils. Cooked beans are usually sold in cans in grocery stores, while dried beans are in plastic bags. You can store unopened canned beans for a year in a dark place. To store opened beans, consider the following methods: 1. __Refrigerator__: After opening, you can store canned beans in the fridge in an airtight container. Open canned beans will last for three to four days in the refrigerator. 2. __Freezer__: You can store opened canned beans in the freezer in an airtight container or freezer bag for one to two months. You can safely store dried beans for years in a cool, dark, dry place. Like most food items, beans are sensitive to oxygen, light, heat, and humidity. Dry beans can also attract weevils, a type of bug that lays eggs inside the beans and can cause an infestation. You can also store dried in the freezer inside a freezer bag or airtight container. Freezing the beans will kill any insects and prevent spoilage. The dried beans will last indefinitely in the freezer. Consider these short- and long-term food storage tips for preserving beans: 1. __Keep the beans in their packaging__. If you plan to use your newly purchased beans in the first month, you can keep them in the original packaging. 2. __Place beans in an airtight container__. If you want to store dried beans for longer than a month, put them in an airtight storage container, such as a mylar bag or a glass jar. Keep the beans in a cool, dark, dry place. They should last three years in the container. 3. __Vacuum seal your beans__. You can vacuum seal storage bags for beans to remove any excess oxygen. Vacuum-sealed dried beans can last five years or longer. 4. __Add oxygen absorbers into the container__. You can put oxygen absorbers into storage bags or airtight containers. Oxygen absorbers contain iron and remove oxygen from their surroundings, killing bugs. An oxygen absorber will ensure your beans keep for more than five years. If your beans have been sitting on your shelf for more than a year, they might take a long time to soften up. Add a quarter teaspoon of baking soda to each pound of beans during the cooking process to soften them faster. After you [cook dried beans](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bean-recipes), you can store them in a covered container in the refrigerator for five to seven days, and you can keep the cooked beans in the freezer in an airtight container for six months. Become a better chef with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Madhur Jaffrey, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Alice Waters, Gordon Ramsay, and more. Beans are an essential source of protein and are a staple food worldwide. Beans have a long shelf life with proper food storage techniques, making them a valuable non-perishable food item.