I'm a big fan of canned beans as a protein-packed pantry staple to fall back on for soups, salads, and main courses. Let's take a look at how to choose, store, and use them in everyday cooking.
Canned beans are one of my favorite ingredients for so many reasons. They are inexpensive. They're versatile. They're used in many different kinds of global cuisines. If you've got a can of beans, you've got choices!
Let's explore how to use this pantry staple from the types of beans available, to how to store them, to how to use them in loads of recipes from appetizers to soups to main courses.
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Types of canned beans
Of course there are endless types of canned beans, but here are some of the most commonly used varieties that are easy to find in most grocery stores.
- Black beans: Black beans are used in a lot of Mexican recipes and have a creamy texture.
- Kidney beans: Most often used in chili, kidney beans are dark red and a larger in size than black beans. They're great in all kinds of soup recipes or serve them with rice.
- Navy beans: These smaller white beans can be found in many traditional American recipes like ham and beans.
- Cannellini beans: These Italian white beans are some of my favorites! Very versatile, tender with a creamy texture.
- Garbanzo beans (chickpeas): These small round beans are the main ingredient in hummus, they're also found in salad recipes and soups like this chickpea stew.
- Black-eyed peas: Very popular in the southern United States, they're not peas at all. They're eaten on New Year's Day for good luck, try this black-eyed pea soup.
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How to store
Keep canned beans in a cool, dry place like a cabinet or pantry, they'll last for several months. If opened, store canned beans in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
When to use the liquid
Using the liquid from canned beans is one of my favorite kitchen tips! Use the liquid when you want to thicken something like soups or stews, it also magnifies the bean flavor in the recipe. Make sure you look for low-salt canned beans if you plan to use the liquid.
When to rinse
You'll want to rinse canned beans when using them in salads, or when adding to a recipe that doesn't require additional liquid like Chicken with Rice and Black Beans.
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