Cook once, eat twice! Freezing cooked ham and beans is a meal prep game-changer. Here’s how to do it.
Hey, home cooks! Let me know if I got this straight. You cooked up a big old batch of ham and beans, maybe a little more than you can chow down in one sitting. And now, you’re wondering if you can pop them in the freezer for a rainy day, am I right? Got it.
Well, well, well, I’m glad you asked, and even more glad you stopped by! Because I, my friends, am here to tell you that you definitely can freeze cooked ham and beans—and if you do it right, you’ll be able to enjoy it for months to come.
Read on, and we’ll go over all of your questions one by one.
Can I freeze cooked ham and beans?
Absolutely yes. If you cooked more ham and beans than you can eat and want to keep the leftovers for longer than they’ll last in the fridge, you can pop them in the freezer, where they’ll keep for up to 3 months.
How can I freeze cooked ham and beans?
Pour the cooked ham and beans into a freezer-safe food storage container. If it’s still hot or very warm, plug your sink, fill it with cold water, add ice cubes, and chill the container down in the ice water bath. Label today’s date, freeze, and use up within 3 months for the best quality.
How long will cooked ham and beans keep in the freezer?
Technically, food frozen at 0°F/-18°C will stay safe to eat indefinitely. Even so, freezing takes its toll on the food and its smell, taste, and mouthfeel slowly but surely degrade. In other words, cooked ham and beans will keep its best quality for up to 3 months in the freezer. It will stay safe to eat beyond that, but it will no longer be as delicious as it once was.
How do I thaw frozen ham and beans?
To thaw frozen ham and beans, move it from the freezer to the fridge the night before you plan to eat it. Then simply reheat it on the stove the next day. The two faster ways to thaw frozen ham and beans are in an ice water bath or on the defrost setting in the microwave.
Never thaw cooked ham and beans in hot water or by leaving it out at room temperature on the counter. This will expose it to dangerously high temperatures that will cause bacteria to grow and make it unsafe to eat.
How do I reheat cooked ham and beans?
Place the cooked ham and beans in a pot and heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it’s steaming hot. Alternatively, place the ham and beans in a microwave-safe dish and heat on high for 60 seconds, or until heated through. If it needs more time, give it a stir, then repeat for another 30 seconds.
