pinto beans

**sinopa27** · 08-19-2011, 11:20 AM

I have a lot of new crop pinto beans. I am wondering if I can can those. Has anyone canned pinto beans?
I was thinking if I had some already cooked and if the power goes out when it snows, I can just open and heat by a different source.
Any suggestions?

**Spirit Deer** · 08-19-2011, 12:41 PM

I canned pinto beans recently. They were the dry ones in the bag. Don't know if that's the same as you're talking about. You need a pressure canner.

**piney** · 08-19-2011, 12:54 PM

I have caned them but like them better frozen,Just shell them when pod turn speckled or yellow,look them good for bad one don't wash put them in container freeze when you take them out to cook wash them good cook they are really good.{of course if you are canning you have to wash them before canning}

**sinopa27** · 08-19-2011, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

I canned pinto beans recently. They were the dry ones in the bag. Don't know if that's the same as you're talking about. You need a pressure canner.

I am talking about the dry ones in the bag. They just happen to be new ones from this crop. I will get a pressure canner then. I only have the water bath canner.

thanks!

**Spirit Deer** · 08-19-2011, 10:26 PM

Beans are a low-acid food. That's why it would be unsafe to can them with a water bath canner.

If you want to avoid the expense of a canner, you could also freeze them as suggested above. I don't have experience freezing them but others do and it sounds like they turn out pretty good that way, too.

FWIW, I made chili beans when I canned mine and those were really good. I need to experiment further with that recipe. What I found is unless I can find a cheaper way to buy dry beans, I'm better off to shop sales for beans already canned.

**sinopa27** · 08-20-2011, 01:35 AM

I was thinking maybe a few jars of pinto beans canned for the winter. I don't mind dry beans to cook but it takes so long. I live in the mountains and the power goes out with snow storms.
I am not that fond of freezing since I lost a freezer full of food 2 years ago.

**sinopa27** · 08-20-2011, 04:09 AM

I was just told by a lady that pinto beans can explode in the jar.
Has anyone ever heard of this happening?

**sinopa27** · 09-28-2011, 03:52 AM

I have researched and no one has heard of pinto beans exploding in the jars. I guess she didn't know what she was talking about.

**sinopa27** · 09-28-2011, 03:53 AM

Originally Posted by Spirit Deer

Beans are a low-acid food. That's why it would be unsafe to can them with a water bath canner.

If you want to avoid the expense of a canner, you could also freeze them as suggested above. I don't have experience freezing them but others do and it sounds like they turn out pretty good that way, too.

FWIW, I made chili beans when I canned mine and those were really good. I need to experiment further with that recipe. What I found is unless I can find a cheaper way to buy dry beans, I'm better off to shop sales for beans already canned.

I guess I could find beans already canned but I like the satisfaction of knowing that I canned them myself and know whats in them. I hope to get locally grown pinto beans and can them myself.