How to Cook Butter Beans
| 1 min read
How to Cook Butter Beans
Total Time:
9 hours
Prep Time:
8 hours
Cooking Difficulty:
Easy
Serving Amount
Ingredients
3 cups water
1 cup(s) dried butter beans
salt, if desired
broth or spices, if desired
Instructions
Step 1
Before cooking dried beans, sort and remove any twigs or shriveled beans. Then, rinse them under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer. Transfer them to a large bowl and cover with enough water to completely submerge them. Allow the beans to soak overnight or for at least 8 hours to help soften them and reduce cooking time.
Step 2
Drain and rinse the beans once more, then transfer the drained and rinsed butter beans to a large pot. Use a 3:1 ratio of cups of water to cups of butter beans or add water as necessary to cover the beans with about 1 inch. Add salt to the pot according to preference and health needs or mix in other spices if desired.
Step 3
Cover the pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Step 4
After it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to low and let the beans simmer covered for about 45 minutes. Check the water level every 15 minutes to make sure it doesn’t boil out. Add more water to cover the beans as necessary.
Step 5
After about 45 minutes, remove the lid from the pot and start testing for doneness. Take a bean and press it gently between your fingers. If it mashes easily, the beans are cooked. If they are still firm, continue simmering for another 10 to 20 minutes and test again. Butter beans should feel tender but hold their shape.
Step 6
Once beans are fully cooked, season the pot once more. Add salt, pepper, broth or any other herbs or spices you desire. Allow the beans to simmer with the seasonings for an additional 5 minutes. Then, drain the beans before serving. Adding butter or olive oil to cooked butter beans can enhance their flavor.
