How long to cook dried beans for?

nicoc

Hi all,

Apologies if this is the wrong place and also if this info is contained somewhere - I did a quick search but couldn't find it.

In an attempt to save money I've this weekend bought bags of dried beans (think it's kidney, black, black eyed and 1 other I can't remember the name of!) which I thought I'd use in my packed lunch salads for work. I've always used mixed cans before so this feels like a big step!

I know they need soaking first, currently in salted water as we speak but I know they need cooking too and for the life of me I can't work out for how long. All the sites I've looked at seem to offer conflicting advice from 45 mins to 3 hours.

Do different beans need different times or can I just sling everything in together?

I did check the packets but helpfully there is no mention on there

If anyone could give me some advice I'd be most grateful

Thanks

Pink.

Hi nicoc,

I just soak them overnight, then drain the water off, rinse and bring to a rolling boil on the hob for ten minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. Then pop them into the slow cooker with the other ingredients and cook until the dish is ready.

I don't add them to the slow cooker without boiling them on the hob, as it doesn't come up to a boiling temperature which is what is needed to ensure that any toxins are removed. I know that some Old Stylers soak and then boil beans in batches, and then freeze them so that they can add them straight to the slow cooker without the fuss beforehand.

Pink

TonyMMM

Soak overnight ...do not add salt (this can make the skins tough and harder to cook)

Rinse ...put in a big pan and boil fast for 10mins , then turn down the heat and simmer until cooked ...how long will depend on the type of bean, how old they are and how soft you want them. Probably 1hr or so should be OK, (chick peas can take longer)
I would cook them seperately as 1) they may need different times, and b) things like kidney benas will colour everything else purple.

Allow to cool and then bag them up and freeze in portion sizes ....brilliant for grabbing and adding to soups/stews etc.

ALWAYS_POOR

I do exactly as tonyMMM above but when they have cooled I put them in a single layer on the freezer tray at the top of my freezer compartment so that they are frozen individually, this may take a few sessions but they do freeze very quickly. I then put them into bags but because they aren't frozen altogether in a big lump they pour freely from the bag making quantities easier to judge. If I'm in an especially patient mood I weigh and then bag them into 400g portions (which I know is a bit sad).

nicoc

That's brilliant, thanks all! I shall enjoy my first baby steps into dried beans