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Refried Beans

June 3, 2008 · 17 comments

Making your own refried beans is easy and economical. There are many uses for refried beans; bean burritos, bean tacos, beans and cheese. They are inexpensive and very nutritious. Pinto beans are high in fiber, magnesium and potassium. When you make your own refried beans you can also control the amount of salt in the recipe, which is great for people on a low sodium diet.

To make refried beans, purchase a bag of dried pinto beans. Soak all day and then cook overnight on low in the crock pot with lots of water. In the morning, drain off most of the water and then put in the fridge to cool. It is important that you fry the beans while they are cold. After the beans have cooled add a small amount of butter or bacon grease to a frying pan.

Refried Beans

Then add the cold cooked beans. The amount of liquid in the beans is up to you. The more liquid the soupier the beans.

Refried Beans

Cook on a medium heat. While beans are cooking start to mash with a potato masher.

Refried Beans

Continue to mash until they are the desired consistency. Your beans should be simmering as you are mashing. Mix in a small amount of salt. I don’t have a measurement because it is really to your taste. If your beans are too runny cook a little longer and the liquid will boil off.

Refried Beans

Serve.

We used these beans on open tacos.

Refried Beans

If you like to freeze your meals, freeze your beans after they have been cooked in the crock pot but before they have been fried. Thaw in the fridge, fry and serve.

For more Kitchen Tips visit Tammy’s Recipes.

Refried Beans

Refried Beans

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My Freezer Cooking Day Plan | Frugal & Simple Living
January 29, 2010 at 8:02 pm

{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Donna (mom24boyz) June 3, 2008 at 2:52 am

ooh I like this tip–my boys love refried beans, but I bet homemade is much healthier and maybe even cheaper! I will have to try this!

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2 Chief Family Officer June 3, 2008 at 3:36 am

My three year old has recently come to love refried beans, so I am definitely making this – it sounds so easy! Thank you for sharing the recipe :)

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3 Kelsey June 3, 2008 at 4:17 am

Yumm I love refried beans!

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4 candace June 3, 2008 at 7:20 pm

Thanks for sharing. I’ll have to make some of these.
Of course, the saltier the better for me!

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5 Amy June 3, 2008 at 8:23 pm

I JUST purchased a bag of dried pinto beans on my last shopping trip and planned to find a recipe this week for refried beans. Great timing! Thanks!

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6 Lynnae June 4, 2008 at 12:55 am

Like Amy, I just purchased some pinto beans for the purpose of making refried beans. Now I don’t have to search for a recipe! Thanks! I’m sure the pictures will help, too!

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7 Alisa June 4, 2008 at 1:41 pm

Thank you! I was going to attempt this next week. Now, I have no fears! You’re always reading my mind like that…

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8 Susie G April 27, 2009 at 1:47 am

I made these – didn’t go quite as smoothly as your photos look but in the end – they are terrific! SO MUCH BETTER than anything in a can – and I have loved canned refries. Thanks! I’ll never go back! Well, unless I’m in a hurry :-)

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9 Laura May 27, 2009 at 3:23 am

[...] I’m cooking pinto beans to make refried beans – with the help of The Happy Housewife [...]

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10 Tara Haner June 29, 2009 at 1:54 pm

I can’t wait to try this! Thanks for your clear instructions and photos! Makes me hungry they look so yummy. Do you have a preference for cooking pans? We need some new ones and I would like to find something that works well and will last a long time, but isn’t too expensive. I have never tried cast iron, but am considering it. What do you use?

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11 Kristen S July 25, 2009 at 1:54 pm

I am just starting to get into buying dried beans, and not buying the already canned ones. Can I soak a big batch and somehow store them? I don’t want the batch to go bad before I use them…or do I just have to do it in smaller batches and keep the dried ones always dried? Thanks!

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TheHappyHousewife Reply:

You can freeze beans that have been soaked and cooked. I have never stored beans that have been soaked but not cooked. They would keep in the fridge for a day or two, but probably not longer than that.
Toni

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12 Rob January 4, 2010 at 1:02 pm

This is great! I’ve been looking for a refried bean recipe and this is perfect. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks!

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13 Nina T. January 29, 2010 at 10:41 am

LOVE this recipe! I can’t wait to try it! Thank you!!!

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14 Norine February 2, 2010 at 6:52 am

Hi Toni,
I really appreciate your recipes and I love the pictures! You are doing a great job!
I have been making homemade beans all my life. Yes, they are much better for you (and tastier). Our family has been making these for years, and I just wanted to share another way of making them. This recipe is from my Grandmother who came from Mexico.
We don’t soak the beans. We just rinse the beans (to get rid of the excess dirt on them). Then we put them into a big pot and cover with water – about 1 or 1-1/2 gallons of water, depending on your size of pot. Place pot on your stove top and bring the water to a boil. Next we add one half of an onion, cut into 4 pieces. If you like the flavor of bacon, you can add one slice (uncooked) for flavoring.
Cover and simmer for 3 or 4 hours. Make sure to check the water level every 30-45 minutes to make sure that the water does not evaporate. If it does, go ahead and add more water. (Make sure that you heat the water in the microwave so that it is very hot before you add it to the beans.)
When the beans look like yours do (in the second picture), they will be soft and pinkish brown. You can add your salt now to the beans for flavoring. ( I usually add the salt about 30 minutes before they are fully cooked. )
At this point, they are ready to eat. You can eat them whole like this – like for chili, or you can mash them as in refried beans.
For refried beans: you can put them directly into the frying pan. I do not cool the beans.
I will say that I never thought about freezing the beans after cooking, but I will give it a try!
Thanks for all of your hard work!

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TheHappyHousewife Reply:

Thanks for all your tips Norine, definitely something to try!
Toni

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