Storage
Store dried lima beans in a cool, dry and dark place to keep them good for at least a year. After a year of storage, the skin gets a bit harder and you need to soak and cook the lima beans a bit longer.

How do I know if dried lima beans are no longer good? The beans go mouldy or have sprouted. You can quickly recognise this decay by looking carefully.

Prepare
Soak lima beans in plenty of cold water for 8 hours. Then drain the beans. Add clean water and cook for 1.5 hours until tender.

You can use canned or bottled lima beans directly or heat them briefly (without boiling).

It is better not to eat lima beans raw. There is a natural toxin in beans, lectin. If you cook the beans, the substance is no longer harmful.

Storage times

Dried lima beans
Cool place: 1 year

Lima beans tin/glass (unopened)
Cool place: see best-before date

Lima beans tin/glass (opened)
Refrigerator: 2 days
Freezer: 3 months

Lima beans cooked
Refrigerator: 2 days
Deep-freeze: 3 months

Preparation times

Dried lima beans
Soaking: 8 hours
Cooking time: 1.5 hours (after soaking)

Lima beans tin/glass
No cooking time or a few minutes heating time.