Vegetables
Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

Baked beans are a popular teatime choice here in the U.K. with almost 1.5 million cans being consumed every day.

Originally considered a luxury item, the humble baked bean is now a staple in the majority of households. If you have more beans open than you need though, you might be wondering if you can freeze baked beans to use at a later date.

However you like to eat your baked beans, there is no denying they’re a quick and easy option when it comes to feeding hungry mouths.

The most popular way to eat beans is the traditional beans on toast but they also work well as a side dish to bangers and mash or fish fingers and chips as well as being served up as part of the traditional English breakfast.

Did you know?

‘A serving of baked beans on toast, accompanied by a glass of milk, offers over a third of the recommended daily amounts of Iron, Vitamins B1 and B2 as well as three quarters the amount of calcium we need.’ Source

Can You Freeze Baked Beans?

The simple answer is yes. Baked Beans can be frozen. There are a few things you’ll need to remember when freezing baked beans though to ensure you get the best possible results.

Can You Freeze Canned Baked Beans?

Yes, you can absolutely freeze baked beans that have come from a tin can. You can decant them and freeze them straight away, freeze after they have been heated or freezed tinned beans that have been in the fridge for a few days.

Can You Freeze Homemade Baked Beans?

Yes, homemade baked beans can be frozen. You may want to be extra careful that none of the ingredients in your recipe have been frozen previously, as these shouldn’t be frozen again.

However, if you’re using all fresh ingredients they can be frozen in exactly the same way as canned baked beans.

Freezing is a great way to extend the shelf life of homemade baked beans which obviously don’t have the same longevity as canned baked beans. It also makes homemade baked beans a great item to cook and freeze in batches for days when you want to grab something easy from the freezer.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans With Mini Sausages?

Yes, even baked beans with mini sausages can be frozen! Just ensure they are piping hot when reheating after they have been frozen.

Should You Freeze Baked Beans?

Baked Beans typically come in a tin can, which is one of the best methods of preserving food.

Even if your tin of beans is getting close to its best-before date, the beans will still keep much better in the tin can than they would in the freezer.

It’s also worth noting, once the beans have been opened, they will actually be okay for three to four days kept in the refrigerator, just ensure if they’ve been heated up they are cooled before you put them in the fridge.

How To Freeze Baked Beans

If you feel that freezing baked is the best option, here is what you need to do. 

  1. If the baked beans have been heated, ensure they are cooled before freezing.
  2. Decant the beans into a Tupperware container or zip-lock bag.
  3. Don’t overfill the container, as the liquid tomato sauce surrounding the beans will expand a little during freezing.
  4. Add a label detailing the contents of the container, the date frozen and the expected shelf life.

How Long Do Baked Beans Last In The Freezer?

Baked beans will last for up to six months in the freezer. When they have been frozen and reheated once, this step should not be repeated a second time.

It’s worth remembering that freezing baked beans can alter the texture a little so it’s up to you to decide whether you are happy with this.

While the baked beans will still be safe to eat after six months, the texture and taste can really start to deteriorate after this time.

How To Defrost Baked Beans

Baked beans are easy to defrost. Either place the container in the refrigerator overnight or allow it to sit on the countertop for a few hours.

Longer thawing times may be needed if the frozen portion of beans was particularly large.

You can also deforst baked beans in the microwave using your standard defrost settings.

How To Reheat Baked Beans

There are a couple of ways to reheat baked beans once they have been frozen. My preference is for reheating them in the microwave as I find on the stove top they can go a bit mushy. However, both options work perfectly well.

Stir the beans when reheating to ensure heat is distributed evenly and there are no hot spots.

When reheating baked beans always ensure they are heated to a minimum temperature of 80 degrees Celsius.

Pan filled with homemade baked beans with a silver spoon and sprinkled with parsley.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans? Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Freeze Heinz Baked Beans?

Yes, you can freeze Heinz baked beans. Freezing heinz baked beans once they’ve been opened is a great way to ensure they don’t go to waste, especially as being the brand leader they are often more expensive then supermarket own brand bakes beans.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans In Tomato Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze baked beans in tomato sauce. There is no need to remove or rinse the sauce away before freezing. In fact, the sauce should help prevent the beans getting freezer burn while in the freezer.

Can You Freeze Own Brand Baked Beans?

Yes, supermarket own brand baked beans can be frozen, as well as Heinz beans and homemade baked beans.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans In A Freezer Bag?

Yes, you can freeze bakes beans in a freezer bag. In fact, using a freezer bag is a great way to freeze baked beans if you don’t want them taking up too much room in your freezer as they can be laid flat.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans With Bacon?

Yes, baked beans that have bacon mixed in with them can be frozen.

Can You Freeze Baked Beans After Cooking?

You can freeze baked beans after they have been cooked (homemade) or reheated (from a tin can). The main thing to remember is the beans should be completely cooled before placing in the freezer.

How To Make Homemade Baked Beans

There are many people out there who will say you can’t beat a Heinz baked bean, however, if you fancy trying your hand at making your own, here are a few recipes you could try.

Vegan Baked Beans

Healthy Baked Beans 

Baked Beans 

Freezing Other Types of Beans

Looking to freeze a different type of bean? We’ve got you covered.

Can You Freeze Butter Beans?

Can You Freeze Beansprouts?