How to Freeze Pinto Beans
Pinto beans can be time-consuming to cook, and yet even after all that work it seems as if you've cooked too many and some get tossed out. To avoid waste and to prepare pinto beans ahead of time, try freezing them. It is very simple to do, and will save you time in the kitchen later on, as well as money since you won't be throwing the excess away. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Cook pinto beans by whatever method you prefer, but shorten the cooking time by 30 minutes. You don't want the beans to be too mushy or overcooked when you thaw them out to use them.
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Drain the pinto beans and immediately rinse them in very cold water. This will help stop the cooking process that is still taking place within the beans. Shake excess water from the beans.
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Put the pinto beans in 2 cup freezer containers, but only fill with 1 1/2 cup of beans. Cover the beans with water but continue to leave some space at the top of the container. This will allow room in the container for the beans and liquid to expand.
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Place the pinto beans in the freezer, where they can remain for up to three months.
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Tips & Warnings
Put a date on your bean container before freezing it, so you know when they were put up and how long they will remain fresh.
If you want to add flavor to your beans, freeze them in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water.
Never freeze beans for longer than three months, as this will compromise their texture and taste when you use them.
