" Compact" is an adjective, and what does it mean? It means small, easy to carry. This is my cellphone, very small. It's compact. It fits in my pocket. It's not clumsy. It's not bulky.
Beans are the main standby, portable, wholesome, and capable of going far, besides being easily cooked, although curiously enough a great deal of mystery is supposed to lie about the bean-pot.