Your cousin shared her famous baked bean recipe with you, and you’ll be making them for your party this weekend.
While planning your event, you begin to question food safety. Should you use a slow cooker?
Or wait until the main course is ready before putting them out? How long can cooked beans sit out before going bad?
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, cooked beans can sit out at room temperature for 2 hours maximum. Otherwise, they will begin to move into an area they dubbed the Danger Zone.
Food enters this zone at 40 degrees Fahrenheit and exits it at 140˚F. It’s in this zone where harmful bacteria can grow and cause food poisoning.
Beans are a fantastic source of vitamin B and fiber, lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and help the healthy bacteria in your gut grow.
People from many cultures use beans as the main staple in their meals, and for a good reason.
Beans are also a great food if you decide to eliminate meat from your diet.
Is It Okay To Eat Cooked Beans That Sat Out Overnight?
No. It is not safe to eat cooked beans that were left out overnight. Most foods that sit out at room temperature that moves into that Danger Zone. This is between the temperatures of 40˚F and 140˚F.
Foods that move into the Danger Zone are at risk of developing pathogens that make you and your party guests sick.
Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is one bacteria that adores the Danger Zone temperatures.
Other bacteria that thrive in the Danger Zone include salmonella, campylobacter, botulism, and E.coli.
All of these can cause symptoms for stomach aches to severe dehydration, which can put you in the hospital. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and sick.
How Do I Store Cooked Beans?
The best place to store cooked beans is in the refrigerator. Before the 2-hour time limit recommended by the USDA, put your beans into an airtight container and place them in the fridge.
Many of us have eaten foods that have been sitting out on a party table for longer than 2-hours. Even though you didn’t get sick, this is no guarantee that you won’t fall ill the next time.
Foods that move into the Danger Zone we talked about earlier in this article are all at risk of contracting the types of bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses.
Food poisoning is unpredictable and can lead to mild or severe symptoms, which is why precaution is the best step to take.
Refrigerators are always kept at 40˚F or lower. As long as you get your beans into the fridge within that 2-hour limit, they’ll be safe.
This method will ensure your beans or any leftover food is always of the best quality.
Do Cooked Beans Go Bad In The Fridge?
Once you have your leftover food in the fridge, the clock doesn’t stop ticking to prevent food poisoning.
Cooked beans last in the fridge for three to five days, which means you should date your leftovers and throw them away if it’s gone past that date.
While food that sits in the fridge is not entering the Danger Zone, there are still risks.
Some bacteria can thrive in cooler temperatures, so there is a time limit on stored food kept in the fridge.
If you made the beans last night, they’re fine. If you made them last week, throw them away.
Tip: If you made a lot of beans and want to take them to the office or school for lunch, store them in shallow airtight containers so you can grab one on the go.
How Long Do Canned Beans Last?
Canned beans are good on the shelf for two to five years as long as they aren’t opened.
Once you open the can, the beans become susceptible to that 2-hour rule set by the USDA.
You must put them in the fridge before they start to enter the dreaded Danger Zone.
Tip: Avoiding using canned beans when possible since they are high in sodium. Dry beans are healthier and a better bang for your buck.
How Long Can Dry Beans Sit Out?
Dry beans are a different story than cooked. You’ve likely noticed that dry beans are not stored in the refrigerated section of the grocery store.
This is because there is no limit to the shelf-life of dry beans when it comes to storage.
You can keep them in the pantry for years, and they should still be okay but will likely lose their nutritional value after two or three years.
Tip: Dry beans also lose their flavor after two or three years in storage, and they take longer to cook. Dry beans can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours of cooking to become edible.
The takeaway here is to incorporate beans into your regular dietary schedule. That way, they won’t sit in the pantry for too long.
Can Dry Beans Soak At Room Temperature?
While some sources claim you can let beans soak for four to eight hours, we will stick by what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggests.
The USDA recommendations are also wary of the Danger Zone, where soaking beans go in 2-hours. So be safe and let those beans soak in the fridge.
Tip: Rinse your beans with cold water before soaking, and do not let them soak for longer than a day. Be sure to add plenty of salt to the water for taste and preservation.
How Do I Store Dry Beans?
Storing dry beans is easy since you don’t have to worry about them like perishable foods, like cooked beans.
We still suggest you put them in an airtight container since oxygen can diminish their worth.
They should also be kept in a cool, dark area of your kitchen, like a pantry or cabinet. A moist environment is not the best place to keep dry foods.
You should also keep your eyes open for insects that enjoy breeding in dry foods.
Can You Freeze Cooked Beans?
Yes. You can freeze cooked beans for two to three months, which will save you a ton of time.
After three months they won’t be the best quality beans, so we suggest disposing of them after that time has come.
Heavy-duty freezer bags work wonderfully with beans because they save room in your freezer.
How Long Can Pinto Beans Sit Out?
Pinto beans are found in many cuisines that we love, including Brazilian, Mexican, and TexMex. There is no surprise to this because they are tasty and chock full of goodness.
For example, on serving of pinto beans will provide you with fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Pinto beans are delicious stewed or mashed and refried.
Still, no matter how good the refried pinto beans look, if they’ve been setting out for longer than two hours, you will have to throw them away.
Not all bacterias will alert you that they’ve gone bad as dairy products do with a sour smell.
If you don’t want to waste those beans, get them in the fridge before two hours or keep them in a slow cooker heated container.
How Long Can Black Beans Sit Out?
Black beans are a fantastic addition to a diet because they have so much to offer. Black beans have properties that safeguard our cells from heart disease and cancer.
They’re also a great source of vitamin A and calcium. But, they cannot sit out past that 2-hour time limit set by the USDA.
Otherwise, you risk food poisoning from harmful bacteria.
Tip: Black beans cook well in an InstaPot or pressure cooker. This method works well for all beans.
How Long Can Navy Beans Sit Out?
All beans have to follow the same rules. When cooked, they should not sit out longer than 2-hours.
Put them in the fridge before that time to avoid them moving into the Danger Zone. If your navy beans are dry, you can keep them in dry storage for years, but try to use them frequently.
Tip: Navy beans are lovely for soups in cooler temperatures. Serve with crusty bread and charcuterie of hard cheeses.
How Long Can Baked Beans Sit Out?
Baked beans are the perfect accompaniment to barbeque. Sometimes, I prefer eating the beans and skip the ribs.
But, when it comes to hosting a party, you want to keep your baked beans in a heated dish, like a crockpot.
This way, you can keep them out longer than the 2-hour time limit, and they won’t move into the Danger Zone.
Tip: Pineapple and bacon are great ingredients when it comes to baked beans.
The combination of savory and sweet make for a side dish that will eliminate your concern about any leftover baked beans.
Does Heating Up Food Kill Bacteria?
Sometimes. Bringing food past the 140˚F mark doesn’t kill all bacteria, and some heat-resistant toxins will still cause food poisoning are heat resistant, and can multiply.
So, when in doubt, throw it out! Food poisoning can be severe, and you don’t want to risk your health.
Conclusion
Beans are magical and provide so much health and wellness to those who eat them. It’s no wonder we want to keep a ton of them in the pantry. By all means, get them all, so you have a variety.
Just remember the Danger Zone, the 2-hour rule, and that dried beans need to be eaten sooner than later.
My name is Keren Tayler. I am a stay-at-home mama to three lovely girls, Sarah + Rachel + Hannah. Prior to becoming a mom, I had a successful career in the accounting field, steps away from becoming a CPA. I decided to give up on my career in order to raise my own kids (as opposed to letting a nanny do it, no judgment here :)) I learned a lot and I love sharing it with other moms. Along the way, I also became a Certified Food Handler.