How To Cook Dried Beans

Beans are awesome for you and hopefully you’ve read my educational article on how beans help you lose weight. Now let’s put that education to work for us by learning how to cook dried beans. 

Buying a bag of dried beans is cheap, but figuring out what to do with them when you get home is a completely different matter. Learning to cook well forces you to plan ahead, and, if that’s not your strongest suit, cooking will help you hone it.
Buying a can of beans takes no forethought whatsoever, and ironically, has no nutritional value besides sodium (if that counts?).
Buying, then soaking dried beans takes forethought, but is worth it in taste, discipline, and fiber. 

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Instructions 

Unlike rice, there’s no real water to bean ratio, so you can relax on the measurement cups Tina. Because they double in size, they’ll also double in measurement after cooked. Tina the perfectionist would tell you that 2 cups of dried beans equals 4 cups of cooked beans. But I’m too busy eating my finished product to remeasure. 
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1. Decide how many beans and gas you intend on producing. 

2. Add dried beans to a large bowl filled with water and allow to soak for 8-9 hours. (Translation…overnight)Neat Fact: You don’t need to soak lentils. (“Lentils are for the lazy” Tina says as she wags her finger at me.)
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3.  After beans have soaked long enough (or you’ve woken up the next morning), strain out water and prepare to cook. ​

Cooking Dried Beans 

1. Simmer beans until they are tender and not crunchy or hard in the middle. (1-2 hours)

​Different Beans Require Different Cook Times 

BEAN TYPE	COOKING TIME
Garbanzo (chickpeas)	1 1/2 -  2 hours
Dark Red Kidney Beans	1 1/2 - 2 hours
Navy Beans	1- 1 1/2 hours
Pinto Beans	1- 1 1/2 hours
Small Red Beans	1- 1 1/2 hours

Wine drinker Tina says you should set a timer like a reasonable adult, or you can burn your tongue periodically testing their density.
2. You can try different liquids to cook your beans in like various broths, crushed tomatoes, or even coconut milk.

3. Feeling fancy? Add in onions, peppers or garlic while simmering to give more flavor.
​ Neat Fact: Don’t overcook your beans! Remove from heat as soon as they’re tender unless you’re making hummus or paste…because that’s exactly what’s gonna happen if you overcook them. 

Whether you’re making Good 4 You Brownies, Hummus, or your grandpa’s favorite chili, buy the real stuff and leave the canned beans at the store. You’ll save money, get healthier and perfect PTA parent Tina can’t stare down her nose at you and your lack of cooking skills.  

Health Benefits of Beans

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