Everyone knows that dried beans are cheaper than canned ones, but they take a long time to cook. Our Instant Pot makes cooking them quick and easy without soaking them first. Not anymore!.
Find out how to make the best beans in your Instant Pot. You don’t even need to soak the beans first.
Can You Mix Dry Beans In Instant Pot? The Complete Guide
Cooking dry beans in an instant pot has become increasingly popular in recent years. The versatility and convenience of being able to quickly cook beans without soaking makes it an attractive option for many home cooks. But can you successfully mix different types of dry beans in an instant pot? In this complete guide, we will cover everything you need to know about mixing beans in an instant pot.
What Are The Benefits Of Mixing Beans In An Instant Pot?
There are several advantages to cooking a mixture of beans in an instant pot:
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Adds Variety – Mixing beans allows you to enjoy different tastes, textures and colors in one dish. This makes meals more interesting.
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Improves Nutrition – Beans provide a great source of plant-based protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Using a variety boosts the nutritional value.
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Saves Time – No need to cook each type of bean separately Mix and cook together for maximum efficiency
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Enhances Flavor – The variety of bean flavors complement each other. Spices and seasonings also penetrate better.
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Convenience – Easy to throw in a mix of beans without pre-soaking. Perfect for busy schedules.
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Cost-Effective – Dry beans are an affordable ingredient. Mixing varieties gives you more for your money.
Which Beans Can Be Mixed Together?
Most types of dried beans will cook up well together in an instant pot. Some combinations work especially well:
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Black beans, pinto beans, red kidney beans – The classic mix for tacos, chili, soups.
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Cannellini beans, great northern beans, navy beans – Ideal for minestrone or bean salads.
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Black-eyed peas, lentils – Pair well in curry dishes and stews.
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Garbanzo beans, fava beans – Good Middle Eastern cuisine combo.
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Cranberry beans, borlotti beans – Add beautiful speckled colors.
The key is to mix beans with similar cook times and texture. Avoid pairing slow-cooking beans like chickpeas with faster cooking beans. The textures may end up uneven.
How To Cook Mixed Beans In An Instant Pot
Cooking a bean blend in an instant pot is easy. Follow these simple steps:
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Pick your beans and rinse thoroughly. No need to pre-soak.
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Add beans and aromatics to pot. Popular additions are onions, garlic, bay leaves.
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Cover beans with at least 1 inch of water or broth.
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Pressure cook on high for 25-30 minutes. Adjust time as needed.
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Allow pressure to release naturally. Check beans for tenderness.
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Drain any excess liquid. Season beans to taste.
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Use beans right away or store leftovers in fridge for later use.
The great thing about using an instant pot is that you don’t have to monitor the beans much during cooking. Just set it and let the pressure cooker do the work!
Tips For Successfully Cooking Mixed Beans
To ensure your beans come out cooked perfectly every time, keep these tips in mind:
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Don’t overfill the pot – Beans need room to move and cook evenly. Max fill line is 2/3 full.
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Add extra liquid – Beans absorb a lot of moisture. Use at least 1 cup liquid per 1 cup beans.
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Get the timing right – Start with 25-30 minutes cook time. Check doneness and adjust as needed.
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Natural pressure release is best – Quick release can blow bean skins off. Let pressure come down naturally.
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Give a flavor boost – Finish beans with herbs, spices, vinegars, or oils for extra dimension.
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Check older beans – Beans stored for a long time may need soak time and longer cook time.
By following these handy tips, you’ll have tender beans with the perfect texture every time you mix and match varieties.
Potential Issues To Avoid When Cooking Mixed Beans
While cooking mixed beans in an instant pot is mostly foolproof, there are a few potential issues to keep in mind:
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Inconsistent cooking times – Some older or larger beans may not soften as quickly. Test all beans for doneness.
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Beans losing shape – Overcooking or quick pressure release can cause beans to break down too much.
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Unevenly cooked beans – Inadequate liquid or overfilled pot can lead to uneven cooking.
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Split bean skins – Rapid pressure release may cause skins to detach from beans.
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Foaming overflow – High starch beans like kidney beans are prone to foaming and clogging the vent.
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Reduced flavor – Too much liquid dilution can make beans taste bland. Adjust seasoning after.
As long as you follow the tips above and test beans for doneness, you should be able to avoid any major pitfalls when cooking mixed beans.
Delicious Recipes Using Mixed Beans
Once you’ve mastered the art of cooking bean blends in your instant pot, try out these delicious recipe ideas:
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Fifteen Bean Soup – A hearty mix of beans, veggies and seasonings in a flavorful broth.
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Southwest Salad – Black beans, kidney beans, corn, peppers and zesty dressing over greens.
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Mixed Bean Chili – Spicy chili powder and cumin flavor pinto, kidney and black beans.
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Italian Bean Salad – White beans, chickpeas, onion and herbs dressed in lemon vinaigrette.
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Bean Burrito Bowls – Spiced pinto and black beans served over rice with all your favorite toppings.
The possibilities are endless when you have a batch of mixed beans ready to go. Get creative with global cuisine bean dishes.
Storing And Reheating Leftover Mixed Beans
An instant pot makes it easy to cook a big batch of mixed beans to enjoy throughout the week. Here are some tips for storing and reheating them:
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Let beans cool completely before storing. Transfer to airtight container.
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Beans will keep 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.
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Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of water to retain moisture.
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Microwave individual portions, taking care not to overheat and dry out beans.
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Add to soups, stews or pasta dishes to quickly transform leftovers into new meals.
With an instant pot, you always have tender, flavorful beans ready when you need them. Just remember to handle leftovers safely and properly.
The Convenience Of Cooking Beans Together
Cooking a mix of beans together in an instant pot saves both time and effort in the kitchen. The versatile electric pressure cooker streamlines the process, producing a batch of tender beans ready for any recipe. By using a variety of beans, you can enhance nutrition, flavor and appeal. Just be mindful of cook times and liquid to avoid potential pitfalls. With minimal hands-on time, you’ll have beans on demand for tacos, dips, salads, soups and more. Experiment with new bean blends and dishes for delicious, nutrition-packed meals any night of the week.
Can I Use Soaked Beans to Cook in the Instant Pot?
It’s fine to soak the beans before cooking them in the Instant Pot if you are organized. They will cook even faster.
Tip: If you think beans that haven’t been soaked will give you too much gas, add some baking soda to the water they are soaked in.
To soak your beans, put them in a bowl full of water and let them soak overnight. Add a sprinkle of baking soda if you want. You do not have to refrigerate them. Just leave them out on the counter at room temperature to soak overnight.
You can still soak your beans if you forget to do it overnight. This is called a “quick soak.” Put the beans you want to cook in a large stock pot and cover them with cold water. Bring the pot to a medium-high heat and boil the beans hard for one to two minutes.
What to Make with Cooked Beans?
As I already said, beans are a mainstay in my home, and I almost always have a container of cooked beans in the fridge ready to be used.
How to Make Dried Beans in the Instant Pot: NO SOAKING REQUIRED!!! This is the EASIEST Recipe!
FAQ
Can you cook two types of beans together?
What is the ratio of dried beans to liquid in Instant Pot?
Why are my beans not cooking in the Instant Pot?
Do you need to soak dry beans before pressure cooking?
How do you cook dried beans in an Instant Pot?
Place 1 pound of dried beans with 8 cups water in your Instant Pot. Cook on high pressure for the directed time. Once cook time has released, let the pressure release naturally for at least 20 minutes before trying to do a quick release of pressure. Once the beans have finished cooking, add in a splash of apple cider vinegar and salt.
How to cook beans in an Instant Pot?
To cook beans in an Instant Pot, you can either soak them for 4-6 hours in a bowl with enough water to cover the beans and then rinse and add to the instant pot with salt, clove, and water, or add them directly to the instant pot without soaking.
Should you soak beans before cooking in Instant Pot?
If you have your act together and want to soak your beans before cooking in the Instant Pot, that’s fine. They will cook even faster. Pro Tip: If you think unsoaked beans make you too gassy, add a bit of baking soda to the soaking water. To soak your beans, put them in a bowl full of water and let them soak overnight.
How to cook pinto beans in an Instant Pot?
To cook pinto beans in an Instant Pot, first allow them to soak for 6 hours and then drain the water. Next, add the soaked beans to the Instant Pot with salt and a clove. Set the Instant Pot to Pressure Cook on High mode for 9 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally.