Which dried pulses, when stored long term, become hard to soften?

Which dried pulses, when stored long term, become hard to soften? - Brown Wooden Surface

I'm trying to figure out which dried pulses store the best, as some are reputed to reach a state where they never fully soften.

In an old answer by Joe, the US Dry Bean Council says:

Dry beans keep up to a year in an airtight container in a cool, dry environment, away from direct sunlight. During storage, beans may either absorb or lose moisture, which will affect the soaking and cooking time. If stored longer than 12 months, or exposed to unfavorable storage conditions, beans may never soften sufficiently, no matter how long they’re soaked or cooked. On the other hand, some beans can cook up tender after years of storage. [all emphasis mine]

Which beans/pulses (assuming this varies by species/variety) are worse at displaying this characteristic? How can I know if it's worth cooking a Very Old (10 Years) Chili Bean Mixture Containing Red Kidney Beans? is relevant, but asks something quite different.

I'm fairly new to cooking with dried beans, and have several bags on the go (black-eyed bean, black, red kidney bean, urad dal/black gram, and chickpea) as well as the common red lentil which I'm more used to. I know from experience that red lentils will always soften with enough cooking, but I may want to choose which order to use the others.

Pressure cooking isn't an option for me, but anyway this question isn't about my options, it's which beans will keep best?


NB: common names are as sold in an Indian supermarket in the UK; I've linked to the appropriate Wikipedia articles to give other names.






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Which dried pulses, when stored long term, become hard to soften? - Long Pasta Noodles in Close-up Shot
Which dried pulses, when stored long term, become hard to soften? - Dried Pasta Noodles in Close-up Shot
Which dried pulses, when stored long term, become hard to soften? - Cracked nutmeg placed on white surface



Why are my dried beans not getting soft?

Some beans refuse to soften. You can soak them overnight and then simmer them all day long, and they're still hard as pebbles. The main causes of this are age and improper storage.

What beans are best for long-term storage?

Beans are perfect for longer term storage and will store up to 30 years, if stored appropriately.
  • Soybeans \u2013 Soybeans are a nutritional powerhouse but need to be soaked for a long time and are somewhat hard to digest. ...
  • White Beans (Navy Beans) \u2013 These beans are amazingly versatile.


Will old dried beans ever soften?

Old beans will take longer to cook, and the oldest beans will stay tough and chewy no matter how long (within reason), they simmer. If you find yourself cooking soaked beans for more than two hours, and they just will not soften, it may be your beans...not you.

What dry beans have the longest shelf life?

Soy beans, limas, pink beans, mungs, lentils and split peas are among the long-term storage beans that, when ground, lend themselves to tasty dried gravies and mixes for sauces. You can also create your own dried soup mixes by combining dried, ground beans with dried spices.



Pulse School: Tips for safe long-term storage and gentle handling of pulses




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