8 Ways to Use a Can of Beans

• Bean and Bacon Soup
• Black Beans and Rice
• Red Bean Chili
• Cannellini Bean and Sausage Gratin
• Lemon-Spinach Chickpeas
• Garlicky Bean Spread
• Black-Eyed Pea Salsa
• Refried Beans

A Note on Buying and Storing Beans

If you're counting your pennies, don't stock up on canned beans during spring or high summer. Beans are harvested in the late summer and early fall, so they're less expensive in the fall and winter. Leftover beans will keep (in a sealed plastic container) in the refrigerator for up to five days. In the freezer, they will keep for up to six months.