Freezing bags of cooked dried beans?

[Jewel]

I've finally got my husband off of canned beans and trying to use dried whenever possible due to cost and sodium levels. He made his famous chili last night with dried pinto beans that I'd soaked and pre-cooked for him before he got home from work.

If I wanted to pre-cook several different types of beans and freeze, what's the best method? I have Foodsaver bags but I'm afraid they'd be crushed and nothing but a big bean clot when thawed. :o How do you all freeze your pre-cooked beans?

[avariell]

Recently I have dumped left over cooked from dried beans with a bit of their liquid into freezer ziploc bags, squeezed the air out and frozen them just fine. I have also frozen them in tupperware type containers in their liquid. I suppose there is a slight change in texture, but nothing I have noticed enough to care.

[Anne]

I usually cook extra dried beans to have a couple quarts for the freezer. Just cook as normal, drain, and dump into quart or gallon freezer bags. If they aren't initially overcooked I've not had a problem with them getting mushy. It takes just about one day for a quart bag of frozen beans to defrost in my fridge so it works well to pull them out of the freezer in the evening and they are set to use after work the next day.

[strawberryblond]

It is better to undercook the beans . That way you won't end up with soft mushy beans.
Place in an air tight container and cover with liquid .
We are also trying to cook low sodium and with so many sodium filled procucts on the market it can be a challenge.
We love dried beans over canned and they are so economical as well.

[Jewel]

Thanks everyone! I never even thought to freeze with liquid! :confused: I would have drained and tossed into the bags and then just re-hydrated when thawed or dumped into the recipe.

Any particular reason to freeze in the liquid?

[bobmark226]

Any particular reason to freeze in the liquid?

No freezer burned beans, for one thing, but, Jewel, don't tell me you're throwing that wonderful pot liquor out! :eek: I use it as part or all of my broth when making soups, depending on the recipe.

Bob

[Jewel]

No freezer burned beans, for one thing, but, Jewel, don't tell me you're throwing that wonderful pot liquor out! :eek: I use it as part or all of my broth when making soups, depending on the recipe.

Bob

You said Pot Licker.. :D *snort*

Actually, I guess I have been throwing it out! :o I've only recently started using dried beans again after a wild and torrid affair with canned beans that started about six or seven years ago. I've come to my senses and would like to get started with dried beans again, so maybe I'll start saving the liquid as well! Thanks Bob!