How to Cook Dried Beans

Isabella Cannon

| 2 min read

Beans are a protein-packed, nutritious and versatile staple of many meals including chili, soup and salad. Most beans come in canned or dried varieties. While canned beans are generally inexpensive and convenient, they don't have the flavor and texture of dried beans cooked from scratch.
Canned beans also have higher levels of added salt and preservatives, whereas dried beans allow for more nutritional control. Another advantage of dried beans is that they have a shelf life of up to two years. You easily can cook dried beans in a slow cooker or instant pot.

How To Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker

Total Time:

12 to 32 hours

Prep Time:

6 to 24 hours

Cooking Difficulty:

Easy

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried beans

  • 1⁄2 cup water

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Before cooking, sort through your cup of beans and remove any twigs or shriveled beans. Then, rinse them under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer.

  • Step 2

    Soak beans for at least six hours or overnight by putting the beans in a pot and covering them with cold water by about two inches. This step is not necessary but does cut the cooking time down by 2 to 3 hours.

  • Step 3

    Drain and rinse the beans one more time. Place your beans into the slow cooker and cover with two inches of water or broth. Add salt according to preference and health needs. Set your slow cooker to a low setting and cook until the beans are done.

  • Step 4

    Set your slow cooker to a low setting and cook until the beans are done. This varies based on the type of bean, and whether they are pre-soaked. Cook pre-soaked beans for 3 to 4 hours and un-soaked beans for 5 to 6 hours.

  • Step 5

    Test for doneness periodically by either tasting or mashing against the side of the pot. Beans should be tender but not mushy. Once beans are done to your liking, serve, use in a recipe or store for later.

How to Cook Dried Beans in an Instant Pot

Here are the cooking times for common types of dried beans in an Instant Pot:
  • 20 to 25 minutes: Black beans
  • 25 to 30 minutes: Pinto beans
  • 35 to 40 minutes: Cannellini beans or garbanzo beans

Total Time:

20 to 40 minutes

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Cooking Difficulty:

Easy

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried beans

  • 4 cups water

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Skip the soaking step and sort through your cup of beans and remove any twigs or shriveled beans. Then, rinse them under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer.

  • Step 2

    Add the beans to the Instant Pot inner pot. Use a 4:1 ratio of cups water to cups of beans. Salt the water according to personal preference and health needs. Lock the lid and set the pressure valve to the sealing position before cooking.

  • Step 3

    Cook on high pressure for 20 to 40 minutes depending on the type of bean. Allow the pressure to release naturally before releasing the remaining pressure once beans are fully cooked.

  • Step 4

    Test for doneness by tasting or mashing against the side of the pot. Beans should be tender but not mushy. Once beans are done to your liking, serve, use in a recipe or store for later.

How to Store Leftover Beans

Once the beans are cooked, allow them to cool before storing. Cooked beans are best stored in their cooking liquid in the fridge for up to five days in an airtight container. You can also freeze beans for up to six months in a freezer safe container or freezer bag.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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