Pro tip: Dried beans take a while but are cheap

I started soaking dried beans overnight for my soups. It takes about 12 hours, so I plan my meals a day ahead. A bag of dried beans costs way less than canned ones. You get more food for your money, and they taste fresh.

3 comments

3 Comments

holly8981mo ago

Honestly, I've been soaking beans overnight for years and never get mush. My pintos for chili always hold up fine. Maybe it depends on the water? I use cold tap water and keep them in a cool spot. A twelve hour soak gives me perfectly cooked beans, not soup.

jenniferr891mo ago

Hold up, twelve hours is way too long for soaking most beans. You're gonna end up with some mushy, split skins. For regular beans like pinto or black beans, a solid four to eight hours is plenty. Overnight is fine if you forget, but that long soak breaks them down too much. It changes the texture, and they'll fall apart in your soup.

campbell.sean1mo ago

Feel you on this. I once soaked black beans for like 10 hours and they turned to paste in the chili. It was a total waste, had to throw the whole batch out. Your four to eight hour rule is spot on for keeping them firm. Now I set a timer so I don't forget and over-soak. More people need to know this.