The last few days I have been in the cooking mood, but I did not want to bake anything. I decided it was a good time to cook up some things for the freezer.
I like to make big batches of beans and keep them in the freezer. I have used up most of what I had in the freezer, so I thought it was a good time to make some more. The other day I made up two crockpots full of beans to freeze. I did one of kidney beans and one of pinto beans. This way I can freeze them and use them instead of canned beans in chili and soups.
I also like to keep refried beans in the freezer to use instead of canned ones. So, today I made a big batch of regular refried beans and a big batch up black refried beans. Homemade refried beans are so much better and so much cheaper than the canned ones you buy. If you have never made homemade refried beans you should give them a try. They are really easy to make.
I also made a big batch of homemade taco sauce that I am going to freeze in small containers. This sauce turned out really well and I will post the recipe soon.
Do you cook up big pots of dried beans and freeze them for soups and chili?
This post linked to Money Saving Mom’s baking day.
I haven’t made up big batches yet, but I did freeze a few cups from the last time I made them. I just pulled them out tonight to make your black bean pizza. Just getting ready to feed it to the family! 🙂 Such a great idea instead of cans!!!
I love doing the pinto beans too. It’s been so handy to have them all set and one in the freezer. I make them in the crock pot too.
This is a great way to save a little money on beans and it is convenient to use…just like canned beans! I used my last package from the freezer last night and need to make up more.
I’ve never frozen beans, but now that I’m cooking in smaller quantities I’ve been thinking about doing so. Do you searong yours first, or leave them unseasoned until you use them?
@Charlene @ A Virtuous Woman, I usually freeze them unseasoned so that I can use them in whatever I want. But if you have a favorite recipe or dish you make all the time that uses seasoned ones, you can easily freeze them seasoned.
I like to drain my black beans and freeze them without any liquid. You can break them up and sprinkle on quesadillas, salad, whatever. This helps me sneak a few beans in at lunch, instead of thawing out a big container.
I’ve tried freezing beans before but they seem dry when thawed out…I’ll have to try it again.
Oh, this is exactly what I did for baking day too. I cooked black beans, great northern, kidney beans and chickpeas. 2 pounds of each. We eat of lot of beans (we are mostly vegetarian), so this is a good way for us to save a little on groceries.
I do this also only I freeze mine in ziplock sandwich bags. I flatten them out and then put them in a freezer bag. It makes it really easy to stack them and they thaw out really fast this way.