Use it up · Beans, lentils and legumes

White beans

Have extra white beans? Here’s how to choose, store and prep white beans, plus 8 family recipes to use it all up, best matches first.

🍽 See the recipes 🧺 Pick a few things you have

🛒 Choosing it

Cannellini, great northern and navy beans swap for one another.

🧊 Storing it

Pantry: Canned: about 12 months unopened; dried: 6 to 12 months in a sealed container (older beans take longer to cook)
Fridge: Cooked or opened: move to a covered container and use within 3 to 4 days
Freezer: Cooked beans freeze well in their liquid

Keep the fridge at 40°F or below and the freezer at 0°F. Freezer times are for best quality; food kept frozen at 0°F stays safe. When in doubt, throw it out. Times from Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M University System and FoodSafety.gov.

🔪 Prepping it

Rinse and add to soups, chili, pasta and greens; mash with garlic for a dip.

📊 Nutrition per 100 g

White beans (canned). 100 g is about 3 1/2 ounces.

Calories	114 kcal	6%
Protein	7.4 g	15%
Total fat	0.4 g	0%
Saturated fat	0.1 g	1%
Total carbohydrate	21 g	8%
Dietary fiber	4.9 g	18%
Total sugars	1.4 g
Sodium	370 mg	16%
Calcium	53 mg	4%
Iron	1.6 mg	9%
Potassium	351 mg	7%

% Daily Value for adults (FDA). From USDA FoodData Central 175192 (SR Legacy).

🍽 Recipes that use it up

8 recipes, the ones that use the most white beans first.

Plan them into your week in the meal planner, or find recipes for two or three things at once with the “What can I make?” picker.

More beans, lentils and legumes

Black beans Pinto beans Kidney beans Chickpeas Lentils Split peas Edamame Tofu All ingredients →

Storage times and buying tips are general guides from the sources below; follow any date or instructions on the package. Cook meat, poultry, fish and eggs to the USDA safe temperatures in each recipe.