Quick Answer: Can You Freeze Refried Beans?
Yes, you can freezer refried beans, and they last well in the freezer for 6 months or so. The key to freezing refried beans is ensuring that the container is air-tight and double wrapped to avoid any freezer burns.
Whether it is homemade or bought in cans, you can freeze and store refried beans. Here is the ultimate guide to help you out.
This method has worked out wonderfully for several other home cooks and me.
So, let’s dive right into the first one.
How to Freeze Refried Beans?
This is the best method to follow for a hassle-free and super quick way to freeze refried beans.
Materials
- Refried Beans
- Ziploc Bag or Freezer-Safe Container
Tools
- Cling Wrap
Instructions
- Cool and Portion: If you use homemade refried beans, let them cool completely to room temperature. Then portion the beans into serving sizes that can be consumed easily in one sitting.
- Transfer and Seal: Spoon in the portioned refried beans into a freezer-safe container or Ziploc bag and seal them. When using Ziploc bags, try and remove as much excess air as you can.
If you are using a freezer-safe air-tight container, make sure to leave some space at the top to accommodate expansion once the beans freeze, and then seal them. - Double Wrap: If you have used the Ziploc bags, double bag them to stop the beans from getting any freezer burns. If you have used a freezer-safe container, wrap the container with some cling wrap.
- Label and Freeze: Add a label on the container or bag with the best before date, and you are all set to freeze the refried beans till you need it next.
How to Freeze Refried Bean Dip?
Time Taken: 5 minutes
What you will need:
- Refried Beans Dip
- Ziploc Bag or Freezer-Safe Container
If you have some refried bean dip leftovers, you can use them to freeze them for later.
Portion
Divide the refried bean dip into portions that you can easily use up in one go since you can’t refreeze it.
Transfer and Seal
Spoon in the portioned dip into a Ziploc bag or a freezer-safe air-tight container. When using the Ziploc bag, seal them after making sure to remove excess air. When using the container, leave some room at the top to accommodate expansion.
Label and Freeze
Add a label with the date, and you are ready to freeze the refried beans dip.
How Long Can You Freeze Refried Beans?
You can freeze refried beans for up to 6 months. If done right, you can freeze it for a year or so.
But for best results in taste and quality, it is better to consume it sooner rather than later. You can freeze the refried bean dip for 3 to 6 months as well.
Store-bought canned refried beans will more likely last longer than a homemade batch because of some added preservatives.
If you would like to freeze the refried beans for a longer duration, you can skip adding spices. The additional elements can fasten the breakdown process.
You can add the spices after you have defrosted it.
How to Store Frozen Refried Beans?
You can store refried beans in any freezer-safe air-tight container or Ziploc bags. If you are freezing a huge batch of refried beans, then the best option, among the two, would be the Ziploc bags.
When using a Ziploc bag, you can lay them down flat, and you’ll have a compact stack of frozen refried beans which take up very little space in the freezer.
But if you are freezing a small batch or just some leftovers, a freezer-safe container would work just fine.
You can use the same logic when trying to store frozen refried bean dip.
How to Defrost Refried Beans?
The ideal way to defrost refried beans would be to take the portion you need and stick it in the fridge for a couple of hours or overnight to let it thaw gradually.
You can use the same method to thaw the frozen refried bean dip.
If you are in a hurry, simply take out the bag or container of frozen refried beans and place it in a bowl of cold water and leave it on the kitchen counter for an hour or so.
You could also heat it up on the stove or in the microwave.
If the refried beans or the refried bean dip seems to be too dry after defrosting, then you can fix this by pouring in some cooking oil of your choice and then mixing it well before heating it.
After the refried beans have been defrosted, they must be consumed immediately. If not, you can leave them in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days.
Can You Refreeze Refried Beans?
No, it is best advised not to refreeze refried beans. Especially if you add a lot of spices to your refried bean recipe, the refried beans get drier the longer it stays in the freezer, and repeated freezing can increase the rate of the breakdown of its ingredients.
To avoid wasting refried beans once it thaws, you can portion them beforehand into serving sizes that are easy to consume in one sitting.
Do Refried Beans Freeze Well?
Yes, refried beans, as well as refried beans, dip freezes well. If done rightly, they can last well in the freezer for a year or so.
The key to freezing refried beans is to ensure that the container used is air-tight and that it is double wrapped to avoid freezer burns.
FAQs
Yes, you can freeze refried beans made with black beans. Although pinto beans are most commonly used for this recipe, other versions with black beans or kidney beans also stay just as well in the freezer.
No, it is best advised not to freeze refried beans in its cans, whether it is opened or unopened. The unopened cans may not be freezer-safe, and you won’t have any control over the portions.
While the opened container cannot be made fully air-tight. Hence it is best to transfer them into a freezer-safe container.
Bottom Line
I hope this article helped you freeze and store refried beans.
If you have any doubts or would like to share some freezing hacks of your own, it would be great to hear from you.
Feel free to share this article with all your friends and family to help them with their meal prep.