A very hearty bean, the Great Northern is found in recipes like Baked Beans, Amish Acres Bean Soup, Chunky Chicken Chili. It's great for those who crave hearty, cold weather soups and meals. Cooking Tips: Let the beans soak overnight and then rinse them thoroughly. Add the beans to a pot of boiling water and let it simmer for 60-90 minutes. Adding seasoning such as Bay Leaves, Cilantro, Garlic, Thyme, Parsley and Oregano make great flavor additions. Storage Advantage: This product is packaged in a poly bucket which is flushed with Nitrogen. Storing your food in a cool and dry environment along with nitrogen packing insures organisms can not survive and provides a maximum shelf life. Oxygen absorbers are helpful but they can only absorb a set amount of oxygen before the absorbtion chemical expires. Nitrogen will remain in the bucket until it is emptied.