How to Cook Beans
Learn how to cook 5 types of beans on the stovetop! This guide covers soaking, cooking, and my favorite recipe ideas to use them in!
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried beans per type
- Water to soak and cook
- Optional: salt, black peppercorn, firm herbs, whole garlic cloves, bay leaves, or onion wedges for flavoring
Instructions
- Sort through the dried beans to remove any debris or damaged beans if needed and rinse in a colander.
- Place the beans in a large bowl and add water to cover the beans by at least 2 inches. Soak for 8-12 hours. This step is optional, but it helps soften the beans and reduce cooking time.
- Drain the beans. Transfer the beans to a large pot. Add fresh water to cover the beans by at least 4 inches. Add a bay leaf, garlic cloves, onion, or herbs for extra flavor. If you’re using salt, add toward the end of cooking (about 15-20 minutes before done) to avoid toughening the beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 1-2 hours, depending on the bean*, until tender but still hold their shape. Add salt, if you’re using.
- Once the beans are fully cooked, drain them. Use in a recipe and allow them to cool completely and store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze them for up to 3 months.
Notes
*Bean Cooking Times (after soaking):
Navy Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Cannellini Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Black Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Pinto Beans: 1.5 to 2 hours
Kidney Beans: 1.5 to 2 hours Storage: After cooking beans, drain them well and let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm them in a microwave for a few minutes or simmer gently on the stovetop with a splash of water.
Navy Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Cannellini Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Black Beans: 1 to 1.5 hours
Pinto Beans: 1.5 to 2 hours
Kidney Beans: 1.5 to 2 hours Storage: After cooking beans, drain them well and let them cool completely before storing them in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, warm them in a microwave for a few minutes or simmer gently on the stovetop with a splash of water.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25cup dried | Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 3mg
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