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Home » How-Tos » How To Cook Dried Beans

How To Cook Dried Beans

Jan 23, 2012 · by Valentina · 3 Comments

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It's very easy to learn how cook dried beans at home. Once you do it, you'll never buy them canned again!Cannellini beans in a slotted orange mixing spoon

Cooking your own dried beans is so easy!

And they are always far superior in flavor to those from a can.

This guide works for any dry bean variety. Cannellini, Red, Navy, Pinto, Black, Kidney, and so on.

(The following beans DO NOT need soaking: lentils, black-eyed peas, and whole and split peas.)

Dried Bean Tips and Notes

  • Dried beans will expand to about two and a half times their dried measure size.
  • Store dried beans in airtight containers in a cool, dry area.
  • Cooked beans can be stored in their cooking liquid for about 4 days in the refrigerator.
  • Cooked beans may be stored in the freezer, packaged in airtight containers or bags, in small batches that make sense (about 2 cups each or so). For best results, the beans should be used within a few weeks.  To defrost them, place them in the refrigerator overnight.
  • DO NOT add salt until the beans are tender and cooked completely. (Adding salt prevents the beans from absorbing water.)

Two of my favorite recipes using beans:

Vegetarian CassouletLarge spoonful of Vegetarian Cassoulet held over pie dish.

Cannellini Bean Tuna SaladCannelllini Bean Tuan Salad i a white bowl with blue trim and red flowers on it.

Now let's get to it . . .

how to cook dried beans

How To Cook Dried Beans

Valentina K. Wein
It's very easy to learn how cook dried beans at home. Once you do it, you'll never buy them canned again!
Print
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Soaking/Cooking Time 14 hours hrs
Total Time 14 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Ingredient
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 260 kcal

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl
  • large stock pot
  • colander
  • large mixing spoon

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound dried beans, any variety
  • 1 small yellow onion
  • about 5 bay leaves
  • about 5 medium-sized garlic cloves, peeled

Instructions
 

  • Soak. In a large mixing bowl, soak the beans in about three times their volume of lukewarm water, for about 12 hours. Drain the beans, add them to a large stockpot, and fill the pot with enough cold water to go a couple inches above the beans.
  • Simmer briefly. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, and simmer the beans for about 20 minutes. (Use a large metal spoon to remove any foam that has appeared on the surface during this time.) Drain the beans and return them to the pot.
  • Add remaining ingredients, more water and cook. Now add enough water to go several inches above the beans and add the onion, garlic and bay leaves. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Then reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the beans are tender, about 1½ hours.
  • Drain. Drain if necessary.

NOTES

Calorie count is only an estimate.

NUTRITION

Calories: 260kcal
Keywords how to cook dried beans, cooking with beans
Have you tried this recipe?I'd love to see it on Instagram! Tag me at @cookingontheweekends or leave a comment & rating below.

Cooking On The Weekends is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Linda

    February 19, 2012 at 11:56 pm

    Valentina,

    I am a long-time friend of your Aunt Roberta's and semi-long-time fan of your wonderful blog. I have look everywhere for dried cannellini beans but have had no luck. Suggestions for markets I'm missing (we're in Phoenix so i have tried Sprouts, Mexican markets, Trader Joe's and regular grocery stores)?

    Linda

    Reply
    • valentina

      February 20, 2012 at 6:29 am

      Hi, Linda! You're fortunate to be a long-time friend of the oh-so-sweet Roberta! 🙂
      Dried Navy Beans or Great Northern Beans are super similar to Cannellini beans, so if you see those anywhere, they'll work well. You can order Cannellini beans online, too -- here, for example: http://amzn.to/xemz9o -- Thanks for following my blog, Linda! I love that you're cooking my recipes!

      Reply
      • Linda

        February 20, 2012 at 8:50 pm

        You're awesome! Thank you very much!

        Reply

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Hi, I'm Valentina, certified chef, owner, recipe developer and photographer at Cooking on the Weekends. I'm also a mom of two boys and a Los Angeleno. I use seasonal whole foods to create unique and comforting recipes for casual entertaining.

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