I always thought dried beans were a waste of time until this week

I grabbed a bag of pinto beans for like a dollar fifty, soaked them overnight, and cooked them in my slow cooker with some onion and a ham hock. The whole pot cost maybe four bucks and made enough for six meals. They came out way creamier and richer than any canned beans I've ever had. I was shocked at the difference in taste and texture for such a small price. Has anyone else switched from canned to dried and found a favorite way to cook them?

3 comments

3 Comments

west.alice1mo ago

I tried the dried bean route last year and it just didn't work for my schedule. Soaking overnight and the long cook time means I have to plan meals two days ahead. For me, the extra dollar for a can of beans is worth the convenience. I can have dinner ready in twenty minutes. The texture is fine for my chili or soups.

henry1881mo ago

You're missing out on the flavor though. Canned beans sit in that salty water and taste bland. Dried ones cooked with some onion and garlic make your whole kitchen smell amazing. A pressure cooker cuts the time down to under an hour with no soak. The texture is way better in chili, they don't turn to total mush.

olivere303d ago

Ever try just skipping the soak? I dump a pound of dried beans straight in my Dutch oven with broth and a bay leaf. Simmer for a couple hours while I'm doing other stuff. The flavor gets deep into the beans, not just the liquid around them. Makes a huge difference in something like bean soup where the bean itself is the star.