Some of you may be surprised to find that baked beans are one of the most consumed foods in the entirety of the UK.
But it makes sense, considering they’re so tasty and also work well with so many different dishes.
The only issue is that the tins they are packaged in tend to be on the larger side, and subsequently might be wasted as only half of the contents are consumed.
This is especially true as they’re often one of those foods that we forget are being stored in the refrigerator.
If you want to make the most out of your baked beans, but don’t want to use them just yet, then you’re probably wondering if it’s possible to freeze them or not.
To find out more about the topic, keep reading, as we take a look below.
Can Baked Beans Be Frozen?
Here it is, the answer you’ve all been waiting for. To put it simply, yes, you can freeze baked beans.
However, the process of freezing them is actually a bit more complicated than you might think.
Unfortunately, you can’t simply throw a tin of baked beans into your freezer without a second thought, as they need to be properly stored first.
How To Freeze Baked Beans?
In order to make sure that your baked beans are safe for consumption, there are a few steps that you need to follow in order to make sure that they’re properly stored in the freezer.
First of all, you should always aim to put your baked beans in the freezer the same day that you’ve cooked them, so that they’re still fresh.
Secondly, you should always make sure that the baked beans have cooled to room temperature before they’re placed in the freezer.
If you don’t take care to let them cool properly first, then this can cause a slight disaster. The beans will expand, before completely bursting open.
Not the tastiest prospect. You could also damage your plastic container too, if you’re not careful.
Putting hot beans into a plastic container can cause it to expand, warping the material and causing it to become misshapen.
This is why it’s always important to allow your beans to reach room temperature before proceeding with the freezing process.
After you’ve allowed them to sit at room temperature, it’s then best to place them in the refrigerator to help with the cooling process.
By ensuring that you’re cooling off the beans first by putting them in the refrigerator, you’ll avoid shocking the beans in the freezer and creating a mushy mess.
You should allow your beans to cool in the refrigerator for approximately 6 hours before placing them in the freezer, giving them an adequate amount of time to cool.
Another thing that you need to consider when freezing your baked beans, is whether or not the container you are using is appropriate.
Always take care to check that your container is safe to put in the freezer. Opt for ones which are BPA free.
A sturdy, thick container will do far better than a flimsy thin one, and will help to keep your beans safe from any contamination with other foods that may be in there.
Another good tip is to choose a container that has a clear lid, so that it’s easy to see which foods you have in there.
If you don’t have any containers with clear lids, then just label them appropriately, along with the date so you can keep track of how long they’re set to last
You can tape this on to make sure that it stays securely on the container.
Make sure that you’ve washed the container properly before putting the beans in, to avoid coming into contact with any unruly germs.
After you’ve done this, you can go ahead and put your beans inside the plastic container.
A helpful tip when storing baked beans, is to always make sure that you’re not overfilling your plastic container.
It may seem as though there’s plenty of space at first, but when beans are frozen, they expand, thereby taking up more room.
To avoid having your beans overflow outside of the container, it’s a good idea to leave around an inch of space between the base of the container and the lid.
If you fail to take this step, it can actually cause a small explosion. We’re not kidding!
If you’ve mixed your beans in with some chunks of meat or other vegetables before freezing, then make sure that before you freeze them, that they’re completely covered in the sauce.
Failing to cover any meat chunks with sauce can cause them to dry out in the freezer.
If you don’t have any containers that you feel would be appropriate for freezing your baked beans, then you can opt to use a glass jar instead.
Simply wash out an old one that you’ve recently used and dry thoroughly.
As long as the vessel which you’re using to contain your beans is air tight, you’ll be okay.
How Long Do Baked Beans Last In The Freezer?
After sealing your beans properly and storing them in the freezer, you can expect for them to last around 3 months if they’re from a can.
If you’re freezing homemade baked beans, then these tend to last quite a while longer. Homemade beans will last up to 6 months in the freezer.
Make sure that you’re always labeling them so that you’re aware of how long they’ll last for.
Can Baked Beans Cause Food Poisoning?
Some of you may be surprised to find that baked beans can actually cause food poisoning if not stored properly, so this is why it’s always important to make sure that they’re stored in an airtight container, and eaten in the appropriate time frame.
In order to identify whether or not your baked beans have gone bad, there are a few signs to look out for.
First, spoiled baked beans will have a strange smell, this is probably the most obvious sign that they’re unsafe to consume.
Secondly, baked beans which have gone bad will develop mold on the surface.
The mold will usually begin to show itself after they’ve been stored for two days or longer.
If everything else seems fine, then you can try a small portion of the beans to taste whether they’ve gone bad or not.
If they taste slightly off, then make sure that you throw them out immediately.
Final Thoughts
Baked beans are such an easy and versatile option for when you’re looking to whip up something simple.
Oftentimes, we don’t feel like finishing the whole tin after opening it, but don’t want to waste the contents either
When opting to freeze baked beans, make sure that they’re properly stored in a freezer safe, air tight container.
Consume baked beans from a tin within 3 months of freezing them. If the baked beans are homemade, consume them within 6 months of freezing.
Cooking is great for your mental, physical, and emotional health. What’s the worst that could happen? Find a recipe that you like the sound of and cook it along with me. You might even unlock a new passion!
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