How Long Do Beans Last? Do They Go Bad?

Beans are attracting people towards them for a long time because of their nutritional benefits.

Some have them as a tasty meal and some prefer them to keep their bodies healthy.

Whatever the reason may be they are common in the diet as they are a healthy source of achieving complete fiber, vitamins, minerals, and a lot more.

Because of this everyone usually, store them in households.

But while storing beans they always come across a question do beans go bad or do they have any variations? If you are also curious about these questions then stay tuned.

What are Beans?

These are plant-based proteins that are also known as legumes.

There are numerous versions of beans that further have different shelf lives.

That includes Black beans, kidney beans, Lima, pinto, cranberry beans, and many others.

It’s hard to add nutritional food items in your diet as they are generally expensive.

However, everyone eats them daily because they are affordable.

They will offer a lower level of cholesterol and fat than any other food item.

They contain B vitamin folate which is necessary for the production of red blood cells.

Eating beans regularly can help in preventing certain types of cancers.

As they contribute to bioactive, tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds.

These compounds are effective in dealing with cancer and other chronic diseases.

Having them will also keep your stomach for a longer time as they digest slowly.

How Long Do Beans Last? Do Beans Go Bad?

You must know about the different states of beans before storing them.

Those are dried, canned, and fresh.

All of them have different shelf lives that are as follows:

• Fresh: they can last for a week or two but if they are cooked then they can last only for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. .
• Canned: they have a life of a couple of years.
• Dried: they have a life of indefinite years and are also considered non-perishable food products.

When you buy beans from a store then there is a specific date mentioned on its packaging.

However, they do not go bad for a long time.

But they do lose their nutritional value after the date mentioned on the label.

Thus to attain the optimum from them one should consume them before the expiry date.

At room temperature, you can store dried them for years.

The shelf life of a dried bean in both an open and unopened pack is 2 to 5 years before losing its quality.

Now you must be wondering what can happen if you eat bad beans.

But there is nothing to worry about as it is completely safe.

How to Tell if Beans Have Gone Bad?

Visible Molds

The most common and easiest way to find out if they have gone bad is mold visibility.

You can see if they have any elongation in them.

These foods contain certain enzymes because of which they lose their texture and become dry.

Thus see if they look shriveled and dry or have a mold then do not think much and discard them immediately.

Moisture

In dried beans, the case is different because their life is quite long.

However, their quality tastes only last for the first couple of years.

Even if they have an extended life period there is still one thing that can make them bad which is moisture.

Dried beans should be preserved from moisture and condensation.

Once they get affected by moisture they will start sprouting when you have to discard them.

Heat and Cold

It can last for years but they can get spoiled if they get extreme exposure to heat or cold.

Once they become rusted and damaged by visuals they are not safe to eat as they have fermented.

Another effective step to identify spoiled food is the smell test.

If they have become bad then they will develop a bad smell that indicates you throw them out.

How to Store Beans?

One can extend their life by storing them in the fridge.

The ideal temperature to store fresh beans is 0 degrees.

But if you are thinking that keeping dried beans in the fridge like other food items can extend their life then you are wrong.

One should avoid keeping them in the fridge as they are not safe.

Because the moisture is absorbed quickly in the fridge and they get spoiled.

To store the beans correctly one can follow these steps.

If you want to use them in a week then use its packaging to store them.

However, if you are not going to use them often then store them in an airtight container like a glass jar or sealed bag.

Be sure to use an oxygen absorber when you are storing them in an airtight container.

One must keep dried beans in a dark, cool, and dry place and they can last for 2-3 years.

Conclusion

By having beans one can maintain their health as they are cost-effective too.

Beans are not that hard to store and just by following the earlier-mentioned steps one can save them for a longer period.

Do not let moisture and air come in contact with your beans to keep them secured.

The place of storage must not be infested by a bug or any pest problem.

If the color of your beans is fading then do not think they are spoiled as it is a natural process but its quality is still good.