Mastering the Art of Cooking Large Lima Beans in an Instant Pot

As a busy home cook I’m always looking for ways to incorporate more nutritious ingredients into my diet quickly and easily. Lima beans check both those boxes being an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, and other essential vitamins and minerals. However, cooking dried lima beans can be time-consuming and tedious when using traditional methods. That’s why I was eager to try out cooking large lima beans in my Instant Pot. With a little trial and error, I’ve honed the process and can now share my best tips for how to cook up a batch of tender, creamy lima beans in a fraction of the normal time. Read on for your complete guide to mastering cooking large lima beans in an Instant Pot!

Using an Instant Pot to prepare large lima beans offers several advantages over conventional cooking methods

Speed – The pressurized environment allows lima beans to cook up to 70% faster compared to stovetop
Convenience – With an Instant Pot there’s no need for overnight soaking. The beans cook from dry to tender with minimal hands-on time.
Consistency – The Instant Pot takes the guesswork out of getting beans just right every time. No more under or overcooked batches.
Flavor – Cooking beans in the flavorful liquid preserves nutrients and enhances their natural taste.

Once you get the basics down, you’ll be able to whip up batches of tender lima beans in under an hour from start to finish. Keep reading for step-by-step guidance.

Helpful Tips for Cooking Lima Beans in an Instant Pot

Here are my top tips for successfully cooking large lima beans in an Instant Pot:

Sort and rinse – Pick through dried beans to remove any debris. Rinse thoroughly.
Use a ratio – The general water-to-bean ratio is 3:1. For 1 cup beans use 3 cups water or broth.
Get the timing right – For soaked beans, cook for 12-15 minutes on high pressure. Double the time for unsoaked beans.
Natural release – Allow the pressure to come down naturally before opening the lid. This prevents blowouts.
Season at the end – Add salt, acidic ingredients or delicate herbs after cooking to preserve flavor.
Check doneness – Beans should be creamy and tender but still hold their shape when properly cooked.
Adjust liquid – If the consistency is too thin after cooking, simmer with the lid off to reduce and thicken.

With these helpful pointers in mind, let’s walk through the complete process from start to finish.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Cooking Lima Beans in an Instant Pot

Follow these simple steps for foolproof Instant Pot lima beans every time:

Wash and pick over beans – Rinse 1 pound dried large lima beans. Discard any shriveled beans or debris.
Combine beans and water – Place beans in the Instant Pot and add water to cover by 2-3 inches. I use a 3:1 water to bean ratio.
Add seasonings (optional) – For extra flavor, stir in 1 bay leaf, 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 Tbsp olive oil.
Secure the lid – Lock the lid on the Instant Pot and ensure the pressure release valve is in the sealing position.
Select pressure cook setting – Choose manual/pressure cook and set time for 12 minutes (soaked beans) or 25 minutes (unsoaked).
Allow natural release – When cook time is complete, let the pressure release naturally for at least 10-15 minutes.
Quick release remaining pressure – Carefully switch the pressure release valve to venting to release any remaining steam.
Check doneness and adjust – Open the pot, test bean tenderness and adjust cook time or liquid as needed.
Drain and serve – Drain excess liquid if desired. Beans are ready to be enjoyed in favorite recipes!

It really is that easy with an Instant Pot. In no time at all you can be enjoying tender, creamy lima beans.

Handy Tips for Getting the Cook Time Right

Dialing in the ideal cook time is important for properly cooked beans. Here are some tips:

For soaked beans, start checking doneness after 12 minutes under pressure. Unsoaked beans take closer to 22-25 minutes.
Allow for 10-15 minutes of natural pressure release before quick releasing remaining steam.
Older, drier beans may take a few minutes longer. Fresher beans cook faster.
Cooking smaller batches reduces cook time compared to larger amounts.
High altitude requires adding 5-15% to the cook time. Check your Instant Pot manual.
Test a few beans after the minimum time. Cook longer in 2-3 minute intervals if still too firm.

With a little practice you’ll get the timing perfected for tender beans every batch.

Troubleshooting Issues When Cooking Lima Beans

Having trouble getting tender lima beans? Here are some common problems and solutions:

Beans remain too firm – Increase cook time in 2-3 minute intervals. Add 1 tsp oil or baking soda to help soften beans.

Beans are blowing out skins – Use natural pressure release rather than quick release. This prevents violent spurting.

Beans are foaming out of pot – Add 1 tsp oil at start of cooking to prevent excessive foaming.

Beans lack flavor – Stir in aromatics like onion, garlic, herbs and seasoning after cooking.

Beans are mushy – Avoid overcooking. Check doneness early and adjust time down if needed.

Beans are split or falling apart – Gently stir rather than overmixing beans after cooking. Handle with care.

With a few easy adjustments, you’ll get perfectly cooked beans every time you use your Instant Pot.

Satisfying Ways to Use Your Cooked Lima Beans

Once you’ve mastered cooking lima beans in the Instant Pot, get ready to enjoy them in many dishes:

Creamy bean soup – Puree a portion of the cooked beans to thicken soup.
Lima bean salad – Toss beans with vinaigrette,

how long to cook large lima beans in instant pot

Tips for Making Lima Beans

You may also see lima beans labeled as butter beans, so named for their buttery texture and taste. They are interchangeable.

Do you have hard water? If you think your hard water is keeping your beans from cooking all the way through, add about 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda for every pound of beans you want to cook.
Are your beans old? If they are, it may take them a lot longer to get soft. Before you start, check the package for a “best by” date.

1 pound dried baby lima beans
3 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, or chicken stock, or water
4 cups water
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 large bay leaves
2 teaspoons salt

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients. The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray
Wet 1 pound of dried baby lima beans with cold water and sort them out. Remove any small stones and malformed or damaged lima beans. The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray .
Place the lima beans, 3 cups of low-sodium vegetable broth (or chicken stock), 4 cups of water (or just water if you’re not using stock), 2 large bay leaves, 1 small chopped onion, and 2 cloves of minced garlic in the inner pot of the Instant Pot. Note: If your broth isn’t low-sodium, use half as much kosher salt or wait until the beans are cooked to add salt to taste. The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray .
Place the lid on top of the pot and make sure the knob or switch is set to “seal.” Press the high pressure button or the pressure cook button, and set the timer for 25 minutes. The pot will start to cook after about 15 minutes of building up pressure. The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray .
After the timer goes off, let the pressure drop on its own for five minutes. Then, quickly let go of any remaining pressure by turning the knob or switch to the venting position. The quick-release will take approximately 2 more minutes. The Spruce / Diana Rattray .
When the float valve drops, remove the Instant Pot lid. Note: It might take longer if your beans are older or the water is hard. If the beans are still a little tough after 25 minutes, put the lid back on and cook on high pressure for another 2 to 5 minutes. Do a quick release and check again. Remove the bay leaves. You can eat the lima beans with a meal or put them in the fridge to use later. The Spruce Eats / Diana Rattray .

Instant Pot Lima Beans With Ham Hock |Kaye Carter

FAQ

How long is bean setting on Instant Pot?

What Is the Instant Pot Chili/Bean Setting? The bean/chili setting on the Instant Pot cooks at high pressure and can be set to “more,” which is 30 minutes, or “less,” which will cook for 25 minutes. You may choose the bean/chili setting and do a quick release after 15 minutes.

How long do you pressure can lima beans?

Beans, Fresh Lima—Shelled

Table 1. Recommended process time for Lima Beans in a dial-gauge pressure canner.
Style of Pack	Jar Size	Process Time
Hot and Raw	Pints	40 min
	Quarts	50

How long to cook lima beans in Instant Pot?

Soak overnight, or for at least 6-8 hours at room temperature. Drain lima beans, then add to the Instant Pot. Add water and stir to prevent sticking. Pressure cook on high for 5-7 minutes (it will take about 8 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins).

How long do you Pressure Cook lima beans?

Drain lima beans, then add to the Instant Pot. Add water and stir to prevent sticking. Pressure cook on high for 5-7 minutes (it will take about 8 minutes for the Instant Pot to pressurize before cooking begins). Once the timer goes off, allow to naturally release for 15 minutes, then release any remaining pressure.

How long does it take to cook beans in Instant Pot?

Close the Instant Pot lid securely and set the valve to the Sealing position. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting on your Instant Pot. Adjust the cooking time to 12 minutes for soaked beans. If you skipped the soaking step, increase the cooking time to 25 minutes.

Can you cook baby lima beans in an Instant Pot?

With an Instant Pot and 30 minutes (after soaking), you can make perfectly cooked baby lima beans every time! Let us show you how. The Instant Pot is our preferred method for cooking lima beans because it’s quick, easy, and yields perfectly tender beans!