I'm new to the bean game but I want to look like this: :cool-bean:
What's the easiest way to prepare dried beans? I've done it on the stove but it took hours and didn't come out very good, and I'd love to not shell out for a pressure cooker if I don't have to. Might wind up doing it anyway but wondering what pro tips comrades might have
IMO, the best way without a slow cooker or pressure cooker is to soak them in water for about an hour, them cook them by boiling for about an hour.
Some people recommend soaking them overnight, and that's fine if you have the forethought, but I've found than just an hour is plenty.
Does depend somewhat on bean though; I've found overnight with baking soda does improve taste/texture of chickpeas for making falafel. But for just like, kidney beans or w/e, the 'quick soak' method works great.
Mostly for me it's just black, pinto, kidney, and garbanzo. Do u season up your beans? Do u give enough water that they're submerged at a rolling boil the whole time, or do u take a more rice-like approach?
I do submerged, like pasta, and drain the water if needed for the recipe. For the boil step, I'll at least add some salt. I usually don't do more seasoning right in the boiling water, unless I'm not draining the water (like if I'm making soup or stew).
If you want them extra, uh, not wet, you can cook them in the oven afterwards. That style of 'roasted beans' is great as just a salad topping, where you roast them enough they split and get just a bit crunchy again.
just buy canned tbh. Or switch to dried lentils, nutritionally it's sort of the same but red lentils cook in like 10 minutes and even green ones will only take give or take 30 - 45 minutes
Yeah, I was actually shocked the first time I made red lentils. They are nature's instant bean.
red lentils and canned beans for double the beans value. You can cook rice in there too to bulk it up
I can feel the bean in my mind reading this article. Thank u comrade!
If you can find a cheap pressure cooker at a thrift near you, it's a game changer. I love using my instant pot for beans, that's basically all I use it for honestly. throwing a pound of dry red beans in the pot with 4 cups of stock and some veggies, cook that bad boy for 45 minutes, baby you got a pot of beans going. it's the best when you get home from work, tired and beat, and still want a nutritious delicious beanfeast :bean:
add a cup of brown rice in there with it and you have an incredible meal that you can eat on for days.
If you wanna go the long route, get dry beans, soak them overnight, put in in a pressure cooker and cook. Add some spices and veggies and make the dish you want.
Short route - just get canned beans.
for anything savory adding a bit of msg in place of salt has produced good results every time that i've tried it
Soak beans overnight. Simmer in pot with carrots, onions, etc. Beans take time. Make larger pots.
We should worry less about throwing away a few helpings of beans that you didn't get to eat because the times you go oh yeah I have beans and don't cook something else make up for it.
Soak overnight. You can prepare them quicker if you need to by bringing water to a boil, adding beans, and simmering for an hour or so but imo they do come out worse and sometimes you need to simmer for longer.
