Canning Dried Beans

Pressure canning dried beans is a frugal way to add to your food storage. Reduce the sodium and chemicals found in commercially canned beans by canning your own.

Beans are an inexpensive source of protein, and a great source of fiber, iron, vitamin B and C, and calcium. Having jars of beans in the pantry makes it so much easier to include them in daily meals.

When comparing dried beans to commercially canned beans, you will find that dried beans are less expensive, can be prepared using less sodium, and you won’t have to deal with that metallic taste.

According to The Bean Institute, purchasing dry beans is about one-third the cost of cans. Canned beans also contain almost 100 times more sodium than dried beans according to NutritionFacts. Draining and rinsing the beans will reduce the sodium, but you are also draining away lots of flavor. Plus there is the issue of the chemicals in lining of the cans.

When you home can your own dried beans, you will not only save money, but you can also control the sodium. Salt is optional as a flavoring and is not required for safe canning. I like to can beans without salt, and then add salt to taste when preparing the recipe. You can also include the flavorful bean liquid in your recipes without adding sodium or unwanted chemicals or off flavors.

Tips for Canning Beans

Dried beans do take time to soak, pre-cook, and can, but preparing them all at once in large batches makes it easy to and have your own home canned beans in storage for those quick meals. Here are some tips for canning beans:

Why can dried beans?

While dried beans do last a long time in storage, they should be used within a year after purchase. If the beans are too old, they may remain hard after soaking and take much longer to cook. Canning beans can double their shelf life.

I can’t tell you how many times I have stocked up on bags of dried beans only to have them stay in the back of my cabinet because I failed to plan ahead to soak and cook them. That’s why I like preparing a full canner load several times a year. Having an assortment of beans ready to go is a huge time saver.

Use a pressure canner

Dried beans can only be home canned safely using a pressure canner. A pressure canner heats the contents at a temperature that is hot enough to kill bacteria to eliminate the risk of food borne illness.

If you don’t have a pressure canner, consider cooking and freezing instead. This article shows you how to cook dried beans on the stove, slow cooker, and Instant Pot pressure cooker: 3 Ways to Cook Dried Beans

Do you have to soak dry beans before canning?

Yes, you need to soak to rehydrate the beans before canning. You may find other options around the web, but these are not tested and may be unsafe. Beans need to be rehydrated in order to reach the proper temperature. If the texture is different, the heat may not penetrate properly and fail to kill all the bacteria that can cause food borne illness. There is no tested safe option for raw pack or canning dried beans without soaking and pre-cooking first.

Types of dried beans

Any type of dried beans can be used in this canning recipe, including black beans, chickpeas, great northern beans, kidney beans, navy beans, pinto beans, lima beans, and others.

Since canning dried beans is all about making it convenient for meal prep, think about how you use beans in your recipes, and plan your jars accordingly. The processing time is the same for all dried beans, so you can combine different types of beans in the same jar, or include jars of different varieties in the same canner load. Some examples:

• If you use several types of beans for soups or chili, combine these into quart jars. I like the convenience of canning a mix of pinto, black, and kidney beans in quart jars to make our favorite slow cooker chili.
• Quarts of great northern and pinto beans come in handy for this white bean chicken chili recipe.
• Pint size jars of black, pinto, or cannellini beans are plenty for us to use when making tacos, mashing into refried beans, or blending into bean dip.

How much will you need?

Since the processing time for canning dried beans is long, consider aiming for a full canner load so you don’t waste resources. A 16-quart pressure canner holds 9 pints, or 7 quarts.

This recipe is for pints, but if you often find yourself grabbing two cans of beans to make a recipe, consider canning in quarts instead. You will need about 3 1/4 pounds of dried beans to fill 9 pint sized jars, and about 5 pounds of dried beans to fill 7 quart sized jars.

Steps to Canning Beans

Before you begin, you may find it helpful to review this article on pressure canning at the National Center for Home Food Preservation website. In addition, read through the instruction manual that came with your pressure canner to be sure you understand how it works. Make sure everything is clean and working properly.

This is a safe caning recipe from the USDA Complete Book of Home Canning book, NCFHP website, and the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (Beans or Peas – Dried). You will find the full recipe below, but here are the steps to canning beans:

Step 1: Prepare the Beans

Sort through the dry beans and pick out any damaged beans, sticks, and stones. Rinse the beans well and rehydrate the beans using one of the following methods:

• Soak Beans Overnight: Add the beans to a large sauce pan and fill with enough water to cover the beans by about 2-inches. Cover the pot and soak the beans in a cool place for at least 12-hours or all night. Go ahead and place the pot into the refrigerator if the weather is warm.
• Quick Soak Dried Beans: If you are pressed for time, you can use the quick soak method. Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat, add the dried beans to the boiling water, and boil for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let the beans soak for 1 hour.

With either method, once the beans are rehydrated, drain through a strainer, and rinse well under clean running water. Rinse out the large pot and add the beans back into the pot. Fill the pot with fresh water to cover about 2-inches above the soaked beans. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat and cook for 30 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Canning Equipment

While the beans are boiling, gather your canning gear, prepare the jars, set up the canner, and organize your work area.

You will need the following equipment:

• Pressure canner with canning rack
• 9 pint sized canning jars, or 7 quart sized jars
• Canning lids and bands (new lids for each jar, bands can be reused)
• Canning tools: jar lifter, canning ladle, funnel, and bubble popper
• Plus basic kitchen supplies such as a slotted spoon and clean kitchen towels.

Wash the canning jars, lids, bands, and canning tools in hot soapy water, and rinse well. Set the lids and bands aside until you are ready to use them.

Place the jar rack into the pressure canner, and set the canner on the stove. Add water per the manufacturer’s instructions. For example: Presto is 3 quarts, Mirro is 2 quarts, and All American is 2 to 3 inches.

Fill the jars halfway with hot water, and then place them on the rack in the canner. Bring the canner to a simmer for 10 minutes (180˚F). Don’t boil, but keep hot until you are ready to fill them.

Step 3: Fill the Jars

Spread a kitchen towel on the counter. Use the jar lifter to remove a jar from the canner. Pour out the water (discard or save it for washing dishes), and place the jar on the towel. Keep the remaining jars in the canner, so they stay hot.

Place the canning funnel on the jar. Use a slotted spoon to remove the beans from the pot, and pack the jar leaving about a 2 inch head space. The beans will continue to absorb liquid as they are processed and this will give them room to expand.

If you are using canning salt, add up to 1/2 teaspoon per pint jar, and up to 1 teaspoon salt per quart jar. Ladle the hot cooking water into the jar over the beans and maintain 1 inch head space. Remove air bubbles with the bubble popper, and wipe the rim with a damp towel.

Center a lid on the jar, place the band over the lid, and screw it on until fingertip tight. Immediately place the jar back into the rack in the canner, and repeat with the rest of the jars.

Step 4: Process the Jars

Place the lid on, and lock it. Bring the canner to a boil over medium-high heat. Follow the directions for your pressure canner and process the jars for the times indicated in the recipe below.

When the processing time is complete, turn off the heat and let the canner depressurize naturally, remove the jars, and let them cool completely. Date, label, and store in a cool location for 12 to 18 months.

Resources and Further Reading:

• Are Canned Beans As Healthy As Home-cooked?
• Nutritional Benefit of Soaking Beans Prior to Cooking
• BPA Replacement Also Alters Hormones
• USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning
• Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving

You May Also Like:

• How to Can Green Beans
• Boston Baked Beans Canning Recipe
• How to Can Potatoes
• How to Grow Beans

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