Here’s the truly surprising fact that will make you feel like a culinary wizard: Cooked pinto beans last 6 months in the freezer. A whole half a year. You could freeze them in January and eat them in July while wearing shorts. That’s longer than some celebrity marriages!
So stop being afraid. You are no longer a bean hostage. You are a bean commander. Freeze that batch. Label it. And know that you have a emergency stash of creamy, delicious protein ready to save your dinner at a moment’s notice.
I once froze a batch, forgot about it for four months, and found it while looking for frozen peas. I thought it was a food crime. I thawed them, added them to a burrito, and they were perfect. So go forth, bean-friend. Conquer the freezer. The future you will be very, very grateful.
