Here's how I cook and freeze dried beans

SuperGreen

Since there's been several posts about this lately, here's how we make and freeze beans, step by step.  We make 2 lbs at a time, which is 4 cans worth.  So 1 for eating that week, and 3 servings for freezing.

 

1. Rinse beans, and soak for at least 2-3 hours, preferably overnight.

2. Rinse again, cover with water in a large pan (we use a dutch oven) and hold at a strong simmer for about an hour.  Some beans take longer than others, we check ours at 1 hour, if they taste crunchy or gritty they're not done.  We continue to cook in 15 minute increments until done, so they squish when you press them against the roof of your mouth.  Chickpeas usually take about 1.5 hours.  You don't have to watch them, so we do this step at night while watching a movie usually.

3. Drain and they're ready!  We put the beans for that week's meal in Pyrex bowls in the fridge.  We measure out 2 cups into a FoodSaver bag, process, and freeze.  If you want to freeze in Pyrex/freezer containers, put in just enough of the bean soaking water to cover the beans, otherwise they dry out and the consistency is a little off IMHO.

Using this method we've got a surplus of several kinds of beans, including chickpeas, black, pinto, and kidney.  If one week we're too busy to make dry beans, there's frozen ones ready to go!  We just soak the bag in a bowl of room temperature water (not hot because the plastic could melt!!!) for about 30 minutes while we make rice or whatever, then they're ready for use.

Roni.Cedra

Thanks! I can't wait to start doing this.

Mrs Manners

I do something similar for my ds except I use my crockpot so they cook completely unattended while we do something else. It's a great, economical way to cook ahead.

madladybride

Actually, I just use a crockpot and never bother to soak my beans...

daisygirl17

Awesome! We have about 4 cans of beans left to use up and then we are DONE with canned beans! Woo hoo...we also have a food saver so I can't wait to start doing this

GRKaters

What food saver do you have?

 

fizzybauberswed

I started doing this (after reading about it here) and it has been great.

Izzybeth3

Thanks for posting it, I cant wait to try it

heliocentric

Thanks. I'm going to try this.

SuperGreen

Mrs Manners:

I do something similar for my ds except I use my crockpot so they cook completely unattended while we do something else. It's a great, economical way to cook ahead.

This is a good idea.  I'm not totally convinced that a crockpot won't catch on fire and kill my pets, so we don't have one.

We have a FoodSaver similar to this one, although I certainly hope ours wasn't that expensive (it was a gift from DH's parents).  The bags are reuseable and BPA free.

Mrs Manners

SuperGreen:

 

This is a good idea.  I'm not totally convinced that a crockpot won't catch on fire and kill my pets, so we don't have one.

Isn't it funny how we're all paranoid about different things? My bff and I just had this conversation. She'll leave her house with something in the oven, but would never leave a crockpot on unattended. I am the EXACT opposite in that I would never leave my oven on but leave my crockpot on all the time.

What if you used a crockpot and just cooked overnight while you were sleeping? I do that frequently with non-smelly stuff (the smelly stuff wakes me up unless I put the crockpot out on the deck).

JoyGotDots

Seems easy, I'm going to have to give it a try!

GRKaters

SuperGreen:

Mrs Manners:

I do something similar for my ds except I use my crockpot so they cook completely unattended while we do something else. It's a great, economical way to cook ahead.

This is a good idea.  I'm not totally convinced that a crockpot won't catch on fire and kill my pets, so we don't have one.

We have a FoodSaver similar to this one, although I certainly hope ours wasn't that expensive (it was a gift from DH's parents).  The bags are reuseable and BPA free.

Holy Toledo! $700?! That thing better cook for me, too.

I'll look around for one that fits our budget. 

treesapplaud

I also cook beans this way. I usually try and cook as many as I can (different kinds in different pots) and then freeze them on a cookie sheet. Once they're frozen I put them into bags and then I can take out the exact amount I need as they are individualy frozen.