Baked beans are a favorite in our home. I believe that they are, in every American household! They are flavorful and even easy to prepare. My kids really love them!
For this reason, I like preparing my baked beans in large batches. I just do not have the time to cook them every now and then. Also, they go on sale sometimes, so I really take advantage of the discounts and buy in bulk.
At first, I was hesitant cooking baked beans in bulk; I was afraid I might spoil an entire batch. However, I found out a solution.
So, as I did before, I know a lot of you are still wondering— can you freeze baked beans? The answer is yes!
How Can You Freeze Baked Beans?
Baked beans are prepared in two different ways. They may be homemade or ready-made (canned). Can you freeze baked beans of both kinds? Of course! In fact, freezing them depends on the way they were prepared.
1. Homemade
Personally, I prefer homemade baked beans. I just love putting my heart into it, especially when I know that my kids enjoy every bite.
The best thing about homemade baked beans is that they can last up to six months. Of course, this is only as long as you freeze them properly.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
Cook-Cool-Freeze
After cooking a batch of baked beans, let them cool at room temperature for a few hours. This helps maintain the freshness of your batch. It also prevents a change in texture and bacterial growth.
Never place your baked beans in the freezer right after cooking. The sudden change in temperature may cause extremely hot baked beans to expand. Eventually, they might burst open, compromising their quality.
More importantly, it is not advisable to freeze uncooked beans. When you thaw these beans, they will have a crumbly texture that is not pleasing. Simply speaking, they will no longer be cooked well.
Pick The Right Container
Using the right container is just as important. When freezing baked beans, you may use any durable glass or plastic containers or jars. Whatever type of container you use, make sure that you seal the baked beans airtight.
You may also use plastic bags. However, make sure that you get rid of all air from the bags before placing them in the freezer. A lot of microorganisms are present in this air. These may spoil your entire batch of baked beans.
Simply squeeze the bags while locking them to get rid of the excessive air.
Label Them Accordingly
Labeling is crucial, especially if you are a forgetful mom like me. You need to put the exact date you placed the baked beans in the freezer on the container.
As I have mentioned earlier, frozen baked beans last up to six months. It is pretty much a long time, so having the correct date labeled on the container is important.
You can skip this step if you are confident enough to remember until when the baked beans will last. Still, I believe that it would not hurt to be reminded.
Depending on how much you have cooked and how fast you think you can consume the baked beans, you may also just place them in the fridge. If you do so, keep in mind that your baked beans will only last up to five days.
2. Canned
I know that there are some moms who prefer canned beans for several reasons. It might be because you do not have the time to cook or you just do not know-how. Regardless, I understand.
Now, how can you freeze baked beans that are ready-made? The steps you need to follow are almost the same as those for homemade baked beans but are quite easier. Here are they:
Transfer Baked Beans Into The Right Container
When freezing ready-made baked beans, always transfer them into the glass or plastic containers. Never put the baked beans in the freezer while they are still in the can. Unopened canned beans are already well-preserved as they are.
Of course, you may also use plastic bags as alternative containers. Just remember to seal them airtight. More importantly, get rid of all excessive air. You would not want the food going to waste!
Label Them Accordingly
As it goes for homemade baked beans, you also need to label canned beans properly before placing them in the freezer. These last up to three months, so you would want to consume them within that time frame.
You can write the date you first placed them in the freezer. Some moms also prefer to write the expiration date of the batch. The expiration date is exactly 90 days after you first put them in the freezer. This is more elaborate— at least you no longer have to count three months each time you check the label of your baked beans.
Consuming Frozen Baked Beans
After answering the question, “how can you freeze baked beans?”, I know a lot of you are now wondering how to prepare frozen baked beans for consumption.
Well, first, of course, you need to defrost them. Simply move them in the fridge, and keep them there for a few hours. You would not want to expose the baked beans at room temperature immediately.
After a few hours in the fridge, the baked beans can be placed in room temperature. Optionally, you can reheat them if you are not satisfied. Just use low-heat settings.
To Sum It Up…
Freezing baked beans is possible, and it is that easy! Whether you cooked them on your own or bought them in cans, you can preserve them for months in the freezer.
With properly sealed containers and correct date labels, you can enjoy large batches of baked beans ready for long-term consumption. After all, they serve as delicious and nutritious snacks for our kids!
I hope I have answered your question, “can you freeze baked beans?” clearly. If you have any thoughts or concerns you want us to discuss in our future articles, feel free to reach out!
Thanks for reading!
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