Beans are a good source of protein, fiber, and other nutrients your body needs. Because they have a short life, it is excellent to know how to soaked beans. Soaking beans lengthens their lifespan while keeping the nutrients intact. It also fastens the cooking process because they become soft after soaking.
If you wonder how you will store your soaked beans, I have some tips that you can implement. This will help you keep the beans long as possible.
Why You Should Soak Your Beans
Soaking your beans is important because it prevents bloating, gas and indigestion. It also helps to get rid of the bitter taste, leading to gastrointestinal distress. Additionally, it fastens the cooking process, and you can use the soaking water as a broth for different recipes.
There are different types of beans you can soak, which include:
- Black beans
- Pinto beans
- Kidney beans
- Garbanzo beans
- Navy beans
- Red beans
- Cannellini beans
- Black-eyed beans
- Soybeans
How to Store Soaked Beans
The first step of storing soaked beans is to transfer them to a large glass or stainless steel pot container. Do not use plastic containers to store as they can retain the flavors and bacteria of previous ingredients. If you do not intend to use the beans immediately, seal the container with a clean dishtowel, then cover with a lid. A dishtowel is good because it is a non-reactive material.
After storage, refrigerate and use immediately within three days, or they will go bad. Alternatively, if you do not intend to use it immediately, freeze the beans for not more than two months.
How to Store Beans with the Soaking Water
Storing beans with their soaking water helps stretch the beans supply and provides flavorful beans. To prevent the beans from discoloring, drain and change the soaking every day within 12 to 24 hours.
Changing the water also prevents anything from growing. Store the soaked beans in a refrigerator. If you leave the beans in a warm environment and get too warm, they risk fermentation or sprouting. Cold temperatures in the fridge prevent fermentation.
How to Store Soaked Beans without the Soaking Water
You can store beans without the soaking water by adding vinegar and rinsing the beans. Adding vinegar to the beans helps prevent them from becoming slimy as they await cooking. The acidity of vinegar preserves the texture and flavor of the beans.
Add vinegar when soaking the beans. Pour them into a strainer on a bowl and cover with a foil after the soaking time. The bowl catches the water-vinegar mixture while the beans are in the refrigerator.
Storing beans in the refrigerator without soaking water makes the beans last up to 5 days. Freezing the beans makes them last longer. Line the bottom of your container with a paper towel to absorb any excess water. When storing the beans without the soaking water, dry them thoroughly. Drying prevents the beans from getting mushy and therefore lasts longer.
Do Soaked Beans Go Bad?
While in storage, the beans can grow illness-causing bacteria and become smelly in addition to being slimy. The soaked bean may also become fermented or sprout. Fermented beans are safe for consumption, but the taste is different.
To confirm whether stored beans have turned bad or not, rinse and smell them. An awful smell indicates they have gone bad and are no longer safe to consume; therefore, throw them away.
Since it may be difficult to distinguish between fermented smell and smell from beans that have gone bad, identify the best sign for fermenting. Foaming of the soaking water occurs in fermenting beans. Sprouting beans do not smell bad; they only seem to have something growing in them.
How Long Should Soaked Beans Be Stored Before Cooking?
This is highly dependent on the room temperature. It is advisable to soak beans for not more than 8 hours to prevent losing their flavor. Keep beans from warm places to prevent fermentation. You should not soak the beans overnight for morning use and during the day for evening use.
Soaked beans can last in a refrigerator for three days and in a freezer for three months. Use the zip-lock type of bags when freezing beans to allow room for expansion and preservation of the beans’ freshness.
Soaking beans before cooking facilitates faster digestion, reduces intestinal gases, and has much better flavor. Soaking dried beans before cooking is the key to avoiding hard raw beans. Soaking allows the shells of the beans to soften, thereby fastening the cooking process.
Can I Freeze Soaked Beans?
It is okay to freeze soaked beans before cooking. To do this, drain the water and dry the beans. Put the bean in an airtight container and freeze them. They can last for up to three months. Alternatively, you can freeze the beans with soaking water. However, they take more time to defrost.
To prevent freezer burns, use a freezer bag and remove all the air. You can also freeze them in a small plastic container and wrap them with plastic wrap. While you can freeze soaked beans, this is not the best approach. It is easier when you cook the beans first and then freeze them.
Conclusion
Beans are tasty and nutritious, healthy and flavorful too. However, you need to soak them in water before cooking to reduce the cooking time. Cooking un-soaked beans take a very long time. You can use the two methods to store soaked beans as discussed above; storing with soaking water and storing without the soaking water.
Storing beans in the freezer can make them last up to three months. Store the beans in an airtight freezer bag or an airtight container to prevent freezer burns. Make sure to cover the beans with plastic wrap before covering the container with a lid.
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