Do cooked pinto beans need to be refrigerated?

Here's why:

* Bacteria Growth: Cooked beans provide a perfect environment for bacteria to grow, especially at room temperature. This can lead to foodborne illness.

* Food Safety: Refrigerating cooked beans slows down bacterial growth and keeps them safe to eat.

* Spoilage: Leaving cooked beans at room temperature for too long can cause them to spoil, leading to an unpleasant taste and odor.

Here's a general rule:

* Refrigerate cooked beans within 2 hours of cooking.

* Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

* Use them within 3-4 days.

Important Note: If you're unsure about the safety of cooked beans, it's always best to err on the side of caution and discard them.