In-Depth Review — La Preferida / 16-Bean Mix

La Preferida Mixed Beans Review

A compact 16-bean blend for home soups — clear on size, thin on label and online nutrition detail.

Updated March 2026 Reviewed by Priya Nair

★ Independent research across taste, ingredients, nutrition, and value 📊 Community & published benchmarks aggregated and scored 🔍 No paid rankings — ever 📅 Last updated March 2026

La Preferida’s 16-Bean Soup Mix is offered on the brand site as a 1 lb bag (product page identifies it as a 16 Bean Soup Mix, UPC 0 71524 01204 6). The product is presented as a soup mix — positioned for home cooks who want a multi-bean base for stews, soups and slow-cooker recipes. The online listing contains basic product identification but no user reviews and no full ingredient list visible on the product page.

This review is based on La Preferida’s product page for the 16-Bean Soup Mix, the brand’s other bean product pages on lapreferida.com (including refried and refried black beans), and the nutrition entry for La Preferida refried beans on myfooddata referenced on the brand pages. Where the 16-bean page is silent, I cite comparable information available from La Preferida’s other bean product pages (e.g., canned refried bean nutrition and ingredient listings) and the site’s own on-page notices about packaging and labeling.

High-level verdict: the 16-Bean Soup Mix is a convenient, compact bagged option for cooks who want a multi-bean base (1 lb pack, clearly labelled on the site). The product page’s strengths are simple identification and brand consistency; its weaknesses are the absence of an ingredient breakdown, no on-page nutrition facts, and no customer reviews — all of which make it harder to evaluate for dietary needs or precise recipe planning. If you need ready-to-eat nutrition data or transparent ingredient lists on a product page, La Preferida’s canned refried beans offer more on-page detail, but they are a different product category.

What this product is and what the brand lists online

La Preferida’s site lists the item as “16 Bean Soup Mix, 1lb bag” (UPC 0 71524 01204 6). The page shows the product as a soup mix and includes a Find a Store link; there are no customer reviews on the product page. The listing makes a general site-level note that “Promotions, product information and packaging are subject to change,” which appears on multiple La Preferida product pages.

That is the extent of concrete, product-specific information available on the page: title, package weight (1 lb), UPC and the category context (soup mix). There is no on-page ingredient breakdown, no nutrition table displayed, and no preparation instructions specific to the dried mix on the product page itself.

Label information is incomplete on the site; expect to check the bag in-store

The online product page for the 16-bean mix does not display a nutrition facts table or ingredient list; the site repeatedly advises referring to retail packaging for the most up-to-date information. By contrast, La Preferida’s canned bean pages do include nutrition and ingredient details — for example, the brand’s refried beans are listed by myfooddata at 140 calories per 0.5 cup (130 g), 9 g dietary fiber and 8 g protein, while La Preferida’s refried black beans are described on their product page as 70 calories, 14 g fiber and 8 g protein per 0.5 cup serving (that is for the canned product, not the dried mix).

Because the 16-bean bag lacks on-page nutrition, buyers with sodium, fiber, protein or allergen concerns should check the physical bag or ask a retailer. The site’s standard disclaimer that packaging can change reinforces that the authoritative ingredient/nutrition source is the package itself.

Intended for soups and long-cook recipes; check package for directions

Product title and placement on the site make clear the mix is formatted as a soup mix. The brand’s canned bean products are labeled as heat-and-serve, but the dried 16-bean mix does not have cooking steps posted on the product page; the site encourages checking packaging or in-store information for preparation details.

If you plan to use the bag in slow-cooker or stovetop soups, treat it as a standard dried-bean mix in terms of expected cook time and soaking requirements — but confirm specific times and any soaking recommendations on the physical package before cooking, since the manufacturer’s online page does not provide those details.

1 lb retail bag, sold via La Preferida site and retail partners

The product is presented as a 1 lb bag (the product page includes the 1 lb size designation and UPC 071524012046). The site includes a Find a Store option, suggesting distribution through La Preferida’s retail partners; however, the online page shows no customer ratings or user feedback.

La Preferida’s site-standard notices about packaging and promotions changing mean package artwork, ingredient layout or nutrition panels could differ between print runs; verify the physical bag in-store if you need current labeling for allergens or diet tracking.

How it compares with La Preferida’s canned bean options

The 16-bean bag is a dried mix intended for long-simmer dishes; it’s not comparable to the brand’s ready-to-eat canned refried beans or canned refried black beans. La Preferida’s refried pinto beans (canned) are listed in nutrition databases at 140 calories per 0.5 cup (130 g) with about 9 g fiber and 8–9 g protein (myfooddata entry), and the canned refried black beans product page states 70 calories, 14 g fiber and 8 g protein per 0.5 cup — all canned items that are heat-and-serve.

Choose the bagged 16-bean mix if you want a multi-bean dried base to control seasoning and cooking. Choose a La Preferida canned bean product (for example their refried or refried black beans) if you need immediate heat-and-serve convenience and on-page nutrition/ingredient transparency.

Pros & Cons

  • ✅ Clear package size listed on site: 1 lb bag (product page shows 1 lb).
  • ✅ Marketed as a 16-bean blend — intended specifically for soup use (product title: “16 Bean Soup Mix”).
  • ✅ UPC provided on product page for identification: 0 71524 01204 6.
  • ✅ Sold through La Preferida channels and retail partners (site includes Find a Store option).
  • ✅ Good option for cooks who prefer dried, multi-bean bases and want to control salt and seasoning during long cooks.
  • ❌ Product page does not display an ingredient list or a nutrition facts table for the 16-bean mix.
  • ❌ No customer reviews are shown on the product page, so there’s limited online user feedback.
  • ❌ Packaging and product information are subject to change per the site disclaimer — verify physical bag for current labeling.
  • ❌ No on-page cooking or soaking instructions specific to the dried mix (site directs users to packaging).

How It Compares to the Competition

  • La Preferida Refried Beans (pinto) — Ready-to-serve canned pinto refried beans — provides on-page or database nutrition details (e.g., myfooddata lists 140 calories per 0.5 cup, ~9 g fiber) and is a different convenience category compared with the dried 16-bean mix.
  • La Preferida Authentic Refried Black Beans — Canned black refried beans marketed as heat-and-serve with on-page claims of 70 calories and 14 g fiber per 0.5 cup serving — useful if you want immediate, high-fiber canned beans rather than a dried mix.
  • La Preferida Chorizo Refried Beans (Smoky Beef & Pork Flavor) — A flavored canned option blending pork and beef for a smoky chorizo profile (ingredients listed on the product page include water, pinto beans, pork, beef, chili pepper, salt, spices, garlic powder and paprika) — not a dried mix but an alternative for those seeking chorizo flavor without cooking dried beans.

Who Should Buy This & Who Should Skip It

Buy it if: Buy this 1 lb 16-Bean Soup Mix if you regularly cook soups, stews or slow-cooker meals from dried beans and want a single multi-bean packet to simplify shopping. It suits home cooks who prefer to season and control cooking times themselves rather than rely on ready-to-eat canned beans.

Skip it if: Skip this product if you need on-the-spot nutrition facts or ingredient transparency online, or if you prefer heat-and-serve convenience — La Preferida’s canned refried beans and refried black beans provide on-page nutrition and are ready to heat. Also skip if you rely on online customer ratings to make purchase decisions; the product page has no reviews.

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