Introduction
Canned refried beans are an instant dish as the beans are cooked completely then mashed into a paste. This dish is a staple in Mexico and other Latin American countries’ cuisines. Classically, you can use it as a side dish accompanying a larger meal or roll it in a tortilla.
Refried beans are healthy since it’s packed with carbohydrates, protein, and fiber and most of these do not contain cholesterol or trans-fat.
Many people make refried beans at home as they believe that any homemade food is fresher and safer while others stick to the canned one as it will save more money and time. But in general, we can say that both kinds are good for our health.
If one day you look at your pantry and realize that there are too many cans of refried beans, some are opened and some are totally new. You must have wondered how long the leftover beans can last and how to store for later uses, also same questions with the new ones.
Don’t worry, all these questions will be answered in this article right now.
How long do canned refried beans last?
When it comes to canned goods or specifically canned refried beans, it turns out that a lot of consumers are not sure about its expiration date. So how long can you keep canned refried beans?
Like many other canned food, canned refried beans have such a long shelf-life time. The actual lifetime can even double the time printed on the label of its can. So generally, an unopened can lasts 3 to 5 years at room temperature but still maintain the best quality. It’s even safe for you to consume the beans after that time but we cannot say for sure about the quality at that time.
However, the lifetime of canned refried beans will be shortened a lot once it is opened. The beans can only last 3 to 4 days in the fridge and up to 2 months in the freezer. Therefore, when you decide to open the can and consume the beans, better keep an eye on the leftovers.
How to tell if canned refried beans go bad?
If your can of fried beans is unopened and undented, the content is unlikely to be spoiled after a long time. But once the can is opened, the beans potentially go bad over time.
You shouldn’t use your beans after the estimated shelf life mentioned above, means that beans that are stored in a fridge for more than 4 days and beyond 2 months in the freezer should be discarded to prevent any health problems.
When the can has any signs of damage such as dented, leaky, rusty or bulged, you might need to inspect the beans inside or throw the whole can immediately.
If the beans are fine then you must transfer them to another container to keep storing. In case the beans have discoloration and an off smell or the texture seems to be more watery, it’s time to toss with no doubts.
How to store canned refried beans?
There are several ways to store canned refried beans and the most common one is to store it in your pantry. This method will be applied to the unopened beans and you need to make sure that your pantry is dry, cool and away from the direct light or heat, then it’s a perfect storing place for unopened canned refried beans or other canned goods.
When it comes to the opened canned refried beans, you better store it in the fridge or freezer to maximize its shelf life as much as possible. You can also pop your new unopened can of refried beans in the fridge or freezer but it’s just unnecessary, just in case you have no space for the can in your kitchen.
Can you freeze canned refried beans?
Yes, you can freeze canned refried beans in the freezer, especially when it is opened to make it last to 2 months instead of only a few days at room temperature or in the fridge.
How to freeze canned refried beans?
Now you are going to learn how to freeze canned refried beans properly in just some simple steps.
Tips to freeze canned refried beans
- Although the beans don’t have liquid in, the pastes itself will expand a little bit while freezing so it’s not recommended to fully place the beans in a container or bag
- Never freeze canned refried beans in its original tin can since once opened, the can is not sealed completely and the expanded can in the freezing time is not safe
Things you’ll need to freeze canned refried beans
- An airtight container or a freezer-safe bag
How to freeze canned refried beans in just 2 steps
- Place the leftover refried beans in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag
- Label the container or bag with name and storage date then stick to the freezer
How to defrost/ thaw canned refried beans?
Defrosting frozen canned refried beans doesn’t require any special technique. You just need to simply transfer it from the freezer to the fridge and let it thaw in several hours or overnight (or submerge the bag in a bowl of cold water)
Beans that have been thawed in the fridge can be kept in a 3 to 4 days increment in the refrigerator but if you used the method of thawing in cold water, the beans should be consumed right away for the best quality and also avoid any illness.
How to reheat canned refried beans?
We bet everyone prefers a warm dish of refried beans, and to accomplish it, you will need one more step of reheating the beans after thawing.
Tips to reheat canned refried beans
- Reheating in a microwave can make your beans prone to drying than using the reheating method with the stovetop
- The amount of liquid added to the beans will depend on what kind of consistency you want, add more if you prefer it watery and less when you expect it to be firm
- Don’t forget to stir the beans occasionally while reheating to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot or container
- Don’t allow the beans to boil as the texture will be a bit dry
Things you’ll need to reheat canned refried beans
- A stovetop/ microwave
- A pot
- A microwave-safe container
- Water
- A spoon
How to reheat canned refried beans in just 2 steps
With a stovetop
- Place the beans in a pot over medium heat on the stovetop
- Add water or chicken broth into the pot to prevent the beans from drying out
- Heat for about 5 minutes until the beans reach the desired temperature
- Remove the pot from the stovetop and serve the beans
With a microwave
- Place the beans in a container and cover it
- Put the container in the microwave and heat on high for about 4 minutes
- Take the beans out and serve