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How to Properly Cook Beans
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Culinary tips

How to Properly Cook Beans

Cooking dried beans in their skins properly used to baffle me, because they would turn out either tough or boiled down to mush. After a few experiments I settled on a method I now trust: I soak the dried beans in cold water for 8–12 hours, then cook them in fresh water without salt for 40–60 minutes over a gentle…
· Tuesday, 06 November 2018 19:10 ·10 views ·
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Time 60–90 minutes
Yield 4 servings
Calories 56 kcal
Difficulty Hard
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Instructions

  1. Measure out the required amount of dried beans and tip them into a deep bowl. Pour over freshly boiled water – this is my express soaking method. Hot water penetrates the dense skin faster than cold water, and the swelling time drops to 60–80 minutes instead of a whole night.

    Step 1

  2. Cover the container with a plate or lid and leave the beans to swell for at least 60–80 minutes. The lid keeps the water cooling more slowly – in a warm environment the grains take up moisture more actively. In that time the beans will almost double in size.

    Step 2

  3. Check the beans after 60 minutes – they should be saturated with moisture and noticeably larger, roughly doubled in volume. The skin wrinkles slightly, and if you cut a grain in half there should be no dry white core inside. If a white core is still visible, leave them to soak for another 20–30 minutes. Properly swollen beans cook faster and turn out more tender.

    Step 3

  4. Drain the water through a colander and rinse the beans under running water. I do not recommend using the soaking water – it contains the oligosaccharides that cause bloating. Transfer the beans to a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

    Step 4

  5. Pour fresh cold water over the beans in a 2:1 ratio. The water should cover the grains by 2–3 cm. Set over a high heat and bring to the boil.

    Step 5

  6. Once boiling, turn the heat down to its lowest setting and cook for 40–60 minutes with the lid ajar. Skim off the froth with a spoon. Add the salt 3–5 minutes before the beans are done. Check by crushing a grain with a fork – it should give way easily.

    Step 6

  7. Drain the cooked beans in a colander, or leave them in the cooking liquid until they cool – this makes them even more tender. Use them as a side dish, in soups, salads or stews.

    Step 7

FAQ

How long do you cook beans without soaking? +

Without soaking, dried beans take 2–3 hours to cook. I do not recommend this method – it uses three times as much water and energy, and the skin often stays coarse.

Why do beans stay hard after cooking? +

Three reasons: salt or acid added at the start of cooking, insufficient soaking, or beans that are too old. Buy beans with a current best-before date.

Can you cook beans in a multicooker? +

Yes – on the “Stewing” setting, soaked beans take about 1.5 hours. In a pressure cooker it is 20–30 minutes for soaked beans.

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