Canned beans are not only delicious but also highly nutritious.
They are full of fiber and a great source of plant protein.
Canned beans are staple foods in my homestead pantry and I add them to any recipe whenever I can.
But, is canning dry beans without soaking possible? The answer is Yes, it is!
Though soaking is the most popular method, it’s my favorite one.
It’s easy, time-saving, and comes out perfectly fine every time I give it a try.
I’ve been doing it for two years now and am excited to share this method with you all!
Scroll down if you want to know the steps of pressure canning dry beans without soaking!
Can You Pressure Can Dried Beans Without Soaking?
Yes, you can pressure can dried beans without soaking them. It’s the easiest method of storing dried beans and I do it often. But, the method isn’t USDA approved and so, the choice is yours.
You can always cook or soak dried beans overnight before canning. That’s the common method that most people do.
But, if you want to save your time and effort, canning dry beans without soaking sounds great.
Can You Can Dried Beans Without Cooking Them?
Yes, canning dried beans without cooking them is possible. I learned this method from a friend a couple of years ago.
Since then, it’s a perfect method that works for me and may work for you as well.
But, I can’t suggest you try this method as it’s still not USDA-approved. You can try it once if you wish and see if there’s any health issue.
For further safety, you can check the USDA guidelines on how to can dried beans.
Methods of Canning Dry Beans
Canning dried beans is quite easy and there are several methods. While canning soaked and cooked dried beans are USDA-approved, canning them without soaking is the easiest.
You can try the method that you think is the safest one.
For all the methods below, a pressure canner is a must. Without a pressure canner, you won’t be able to seal the jars perfectly.
But, you can also try alternatives such as pickling dried beans.
Canning Soaked Dried Beans
The ingredients that you need to can soak dried beans are beans, water, and canning salt. You can also preserve dried beans without canning salt and that’s optional. Here’s how you can soak dried beans properly:
Rinse the dried beans with fresh water as that’ll remove the dirt. Then, check well for sticks, stones, and damaged beans and discard them. Next, take a large bowl and add plenty of water to soak the beans overnight.
In the morning, drain the water and clean the beans once again. Clean the canning container and its lid with a mild dishwasher. Fill the half portion of the container with soaked beans.
Add water but make sure there’s one inch of headspace above the water level.
You can either add salt or completely avoid it. Then, with the help of a bubble remover, remove the bubbles from the container. Tighten the lid carefully so that the can is sealed well.
Add one inch of water to your pressure canner and place the can into it. At 180 degrees F, simmer the pressure canner for 10 minutes. Switching off the oven, keep the lid of the canner closed for 30 minutes.
Take the can out carefully from the pressure canner. The heat inside is extremely dangerous and so, you need to wear gloves. I prefer wearing microwave gloves to do it or using a towel.
Now, your soaked dried beans are ready to store in the refrigerator. You can store them for up to one year or more. But, before reusing, always check whether the beans are edible or they’re stale.
Canning Cooked Dried Beans
This method is a bit easier than the previous one. You need dried beans, water, and canning salt for this method. Canning salt is again an optional ingredient that you can also avoid.
First, rinse the beans with water and check for stones or damaged beans. Next, add water to a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once the water starts to bubble, add the dried beans and boil for 2-3 minutes.
Soak the boiled beans in the saucepan water for at least one hour. Remove the water and clean the beans well. Your beans are now ready for canning.
Clean the can and its lead well and add the beans into it. Add water leaving one inch of head space and remove the bubbles with a bubble remover. Cover the lid and pressure can for 10 minutes at 180 degrees F.
Turn off the heat and leave the pressure canner for 30 minutes. Take out the can with a towel or wear gloves. Once it gets cool, store it in your refrigerator safely.
Canning Dry Beans without Soaking
Here comes my favorite hassle-free method of preserving dried beans. To try this method, you need dried beans, canning salt, and water. Last time, I was running out of canning salt and I skipped it.
Here, an important factor to check is the portion you want to preserve. Dried beans usually tend to expand in size when you can them. For this reason, it’s very important to use a large container if the portion is large.
Rinse the beans well and remove damaged beans or stones, if any. If you’re using pint jars, you need to add 1/2 cup of dried beans in each. 1/2 teaspoon of canning salt is ideal for each jar that you can add now.
Then, pour boiling water into the jar leaving one inch of head space. To release the bubbles, you can use a bubble remover. Next, close the lids and pressure can for 10 minutes at 180 degrees F.
Once the pressure is released, you can open the lid of your pressure canner. Then, you need to take the jars out safely with a towel. Once they are cool, you can refrigerate them as long as you want.
Canning Dry Beans In Pressure Canner
A pressure canner is an important tool for canning dry beans or any veggies.
That’s because a pressure canner can secure low-acid foods by killing off harmful microorganisms.
Also, pressure canners can safely sterilize the canning containers if the processing time exceeds 10 minutes.
Water Bath Canning
Water bath canning is the most popular method of canning foods.
This method refers to boiling the cans filled with foods for proper sealing and killing microorganisms.
The method works best when it comes to preserving high-acid foods.
How Long Do You Water Bath Beans?
For canning dried beans, you can water bath the cans for 10 minutes.
But, for other foods, the time may differ.
Some foods get ready for preservation within 5 minutes of the water bath.
Can You Store Dried Beans In Mason Jars?
Yes, mason jars are the best containers for canning dried beans. You can try Ball mason jars as they are really impressive.
I’ve been Ball canning dry beans for years now and can’t think of any better option.
Ball mason jars are made of premium quality food-grade plastic. The screw lids are very easy to attach.
And the best part is that these jars are stain-free and very easy to clean as the surface is smooth.
Why Are My Canned Green Beans Cloudy?
Your canned green beans are cloudy probably because they’re too mature. Overprocessing is a huge mistake that many people often do while preserving.
And it happens mostly when you pressure can for a longer hour.
Another reason for the cloudy appearance of canned green beans is using table salt. When water mixes with the minerals of table salt, the broth becomes starchy.
These are some common mistakes that you need to avoid while storing green beans.
Canning Dried Beans Turning To Mush
If you’ve canned dried beans in a broth that’s too alkaline, your beans will turn mushy.
Alkaline broth can degenerate the firmness of beans, which can lead to this issue.
Secondly, the quality of water you’re using can determine if the beans will remain hard or mushy.
How Can You Tell If Canned Pinto Beans Are Bad?
Some signs of bad canned pinto beans are molds, foul odor, and mushiness.
You can look at the beans and smell them to know if they are bad.
If there’s any mold, you need to completely discard the batch.
How Do You Store Dried Beans Long Term?
Canning dried beans will help you to store them long-term.
But, it’s important to follow all the tips I’ve explained above. That ensures a proper and safe canning process.
Is Dry Canning Beans Safe?
Yes, dry canning beans is a safe method. But, canning salt is the most problematic ingredient that you need to use carefully.
Canning salt isn’t good to ingest as it can lead to digestive issues and food poisoning.
Botulism is food poisoning that occurs when you consume improperly tinned food or preserved food. But, to prevent it, you need to wash the beans well after taking them out of the jar.
Also, pressure canning of the jars will help you to prevent botulism.
Can I Vacuum Seal Dried Beans?
Yes, you can vacuum-seal dried beans to enhance their shelf life.
There are storage bags available that can help you to vacuum seal dried beans.
How Long Will Dried Beans Last If Vacuum-Sealed?
Dried beans can even last for up to 5-6 years if properly vacuum sealed.
But, it can hugely depend on the beans quality and the weather condition.
Can You Freeze Uncooked Dry Beans?
Yes, freezing uncooked dry beans is possible.
All you need is an airtight container or a freezer bag to do it.
Conclusion
Canning dry beans without soaking is really easy.
But, you need to use proper tools to ensure safety.
And in case you want to soak or cook beans before canning, follow the above methods.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Homestead Lifestyle Board!!
