Dry beans are a core survival and emergency food because of their nutritional value and long shelf-life. Combined with a complementary food like white rice, another survival food legend, they provide all nine essential amino acids to make a complete protein. Store beans correctly, and they will outlast you.
How long do dried beans last?
Beans will last one to two years in regular store packaging if they are repackaged into Oxygen-free containers such as sealed Mylar bags with oxygen absorbers or sealed #10 cans; shelf-life increases up to 30 years if stored in a cool, dry location bean shelf-life is maximized.
Also, avoid storing dried beans next to hot spots like an oven, refrigerator, or furnace, garage, or outdoor shed.
I’ve personally stored hundreds of pounds of pinto and black beans in my emergency storage using the trifecta of food-grade buckets, Mylar bags, and oxygen absorbers, so I practice what I preach. Keep reading to make ready your catastrophe bean supply.
Where Is The Best Place To Store Beans For Long-term Storage?
The best place to store your beans is in a climate-controlled area with temperatures above 32° Fahrenheit and below 70° Fahrenheit.
Maintaining these temperatures isn’t possible for most of us, so do your best and keep your beans as cool as possible.
Finding a place to store your beans can be a challenge so get creative. I retrofitted a walk in closet to hold my emergency food supplies and other catastrophe gear. I moved clothes I don’t wear often to an outdoor shed and my everyday duds are in a bathroom cupboard.
Scott, Ready Squirrel
Why Do Beans Last Longer When Packaged Oxygen-free?
Dry beans exposed to oxygen will deteriorate over time due to the effects of oxidation. Oxidation occurs when oxygen combines with foodstuffs and breaks them down or alters them, affecting the texture, flavor, and nutritional value.
According to the National Laboratory of Medicine, oxygen causes fats to oxidize and decreases bean nutrition, flavor, and overall quality.
To learn more about storing one of the top 4 survival foods, beans, check out the Ready Squirrel article “Beans For Long-term Storage.”
Chart #1 Dry Beans Shelf Life
| Dried Bean/Legume Type | Average Shelf-life In Years |
| Adzuki Beans | 25 to 30 |
| Kidney Bean | 25 to 30 |
| Pinto Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Mung Bean | 25 to 30 |
| Soybean–Dehydrated (soya/edamame) | 10 to 15 Years |
| Split Pea-Freeze-dried | Up to 30 Years |
| Black Turtle Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Black-eyed pea (Cowpeas) | Up to 30 Years |
| Black Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Navy Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Lentils | Up to 30 Years |
| Lima Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Pink Bean | Up to 30 Years |
| Garbanzo or Chick Peas | Up to 30 Years |
| Cranberry Beans (Roman Beans) | Up to 30 Years |
| Pigeon Peas | Up to 30 Years |
| Cannellini | Up to 30 Years |
The sixteen varieties listed in the chart below are the best beans for emergency food because they are readily available and cover the gambit of what you might use them for in a survival scenario, everything from soups, stews, and chilis to making your soy milk and tofu.
The bulk of my bean storage is pinto beans and black beans because these are the types I regularly find on sale, and my whole family likes eating them.
Chart #2 Best Beans For Survival: Nutrition and Calories
Bean Type–One Cup Boiled | Calories | Protein | Carbohydrates | Fat |
| Adzuki Bean | 294 | 17g | 57g | .2g |
| Kidney Bean | 225 | 15g | 40g | .9g |
| Pinto Bean | 245 | 15g | 45g | .3g |
| Mung Bean | 213 | 14g | 39g | .8g |
| Soybean Dehydrated (soybean, edamame) | 298 | 29g | 56g | 15g |
| Split Pea | 231 | 16g | 41g | .8g |
| Black Turtle Bean | 227 | 15g | 25.8 | .8g |
| Black-eyed pea (Cowpeas) | 194 | 13g | 35g | .9g |
| Black Bean | 227 | 15g | 25.8g | .8g |
| Navy Bean | 255 | 15 g | 47g | 1.13 |
| Lentils (not a bean) | 230 | 17.9 | 39.9 | .8g |
| Lima Bean | 217 | 15 g | 39g | .7g |
| Pink Bean (related to the kidney bean) | 252 | 15.3g | 47.2 | .8g |
| Garbanzo/Chick Peas | 269 | 15 g | 45g | 4.2g |
| Cranberry Beans (Roman Beans) | 241 | 16.5g | 43g | .8g |
| Pigeon Peas | 203 | 11.4g | 39g | .64g |
| Cannellini | 225 | 15.4 | 40.4g | .9g |
Store canned beans for specific emergency scenarios. Learn more by reading the Ready Squirrel article, Dried vs. Canned Beans For Prepping: Why I store Mostly Dried Beans.
Learn more about storing beans for hoarding. Check out the Ready Squirrel article, How to Preserve Beans In Long-term Storage.
