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Cooking Up a Pantry Staple: Dried Bean Recipes

Stocking your pantry with dried beans makes good sense. Beans are a great source of protein and versatile, as you will see in these dried bean recipes.

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One easy way to make your family more prepared for unexpected situations or natural disasters is to have a well-stocked pantry. Even if you’re just having a hectic week, it’s nice to know that you can count on the ingredients in your pantry, freezer, and fridge to put together a quick, nutritious dinner.

Among my favorite foods to keep stocked in the pantry are dried beans. Beans are inexpensive, a great source of protein, and easy to prepare with just a bit of advance planning. Best of all, they are incredibly versatile, as you will discover in this delicious collection of dried bean recipes.

Dried Bean Basics

It’s incredibly fun and a great step in the direction of preparedness when you learn to grow drying beans for food security. Learning the skill of successfully saving seeds is also a good idea for those who strive to be self-reliant.

It will help you save money on seeds and allow you to have a steady source for years to come. We found a great collection of heirloom bean varieties to grow in your garden, give them a try and save the seed for years to come!

It’s not difficult to learn how to cook dried beans, but it does take a bit of advance planning and preparation. You can cook dried beans on the stove top or a slow cooker and it will take a few hours for them to get soft. If you’re short on time, you can use an pressure cooker and have beans ready in minutes instead of hours.

Some people choose to pressure can their dried beans so they are as convenient to use as canned beans from the store. This is sound practice and will, in the long run, save you time. You can even use dried beans when you make home canned soups like this canned ham and bean soup.

Dried Bean Recipes

Stocking your pantry with dried beans makes good sense. Beans are full of nutrition, inexpensive, and will stay fresh for years when properly stored.

Consider filling up your pantry with a variety of dried beans next time you place a bulk food order or hit the grocery store. Or add dried beans to your garden plan.

Beans store beautifully in the pantry and give you the comforting feeling of knowing that no matter what emergency or unexpected situation might arise, you can fill your family’s belly with one of these delicious and hearty dried bean recipes.

What is your favorite dried bean recipe? Please share it in the comments below!

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Thanks for sharing!

M.

Wednesday 26th of April 2017

First of all, I never met a bean I didn't like. There are SOME beans I like MORE than others, but all beans are welcome at my table. Having said that, as a New Orleans girl, RED BEANS and rice top my bean list. I MUST have them every Monday. YUMMMMMMM!

Teri Page

Thursday 27th of April 2017

Yum! Red beans and rice are delicious!