Cooking Black Beans Fast: A Step-by-Step Guide

It’s awfully handy to know how to cook simple black beans. This was the case for me when we ate out in Mexico many years ago and a pot of beans was the main dish. We ended up there when a friend generously offered up her vacation condo at the last minute. When my husband got home from work, I got a girlfriend and our kids and we were on our way. The place was breathtaking, but unfortunately, so were the prices at the resort restaurant. We thought we’d cook in the kitchen instead of spending our kids’ college money in the dining room since we had one.

Our cooking goals were to make dishes that fit in with our Mexican surroundings AND wouldn’t take up too much of our valuable pool time. We went to the store and bought lots of fruits, vegetables, avocados, eggs, cheese, tortillas (two kinds), chips and salsa, and as a last-minute addition, a couple of pounds of dried black beans.

Black beans are a versatile pantry staple loved for their rich, earthy flavor and impressive nutrition profile. But cooking dried black beans can be time consuming, taking 1-2 hours on the stovetop. When you want to whip up black beans fast, follow this guide for tips, tricks and speedy cooking methods. You’ll be enjoying homemade beans in no time!

Why Cook Your Own Black Beans?

Cooking dried black beans from scratch takes more effort than just grabbing a can, but it’s worth it. Homecooked beans have

Superior texture – creamy and intact rather than mushy
Big cost savings over canned
Ability to control sodium and add seasonings you like
Increased nutrition as no nutrients leach into canning liquid
Fresher, more pronounced bean flavor

So while opening a can may be quicker, taking a bit of extra time to cook your own beans pays off in the end.

Tips for Cooking Black Beans Fast

Here are some tips to slash your bean cooking time:

Use Smaller Beans

Smaller beans cook faster, so choose petite or medium sized dried beans rather than large limas or gigantes. Black beans are a nice mid-size bean.

Quick Soak

A 1 hour quick soak in hot water before cooking reduces cook time by about 30 minutes compared to unsoaked beans.

Use a Pressure Cooker

An electric pressure cooker like the Instant Pot cuts cook time to just 20-30 minutes without any presoaking needed. It’s the fastest stovetop method.

Cook at High Heat

Once simmering, cook at a rapid bubble vs. lazy simmer so beans cook through faster. Check often to avoid overcooking.

Cut Beans in Half

Halving larger beans like limas exposes more surface area to heat and moisture, reducing cook time.

Add Acidic Ingredients Later

Tomatoes, lemon juice etc. can prevent beans from softening fully. Add them after beans are cooked.

Use Softened Water

Hard water makes beans take longer to soften. Use filtered water if possible for faster cooking.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Black Beans Fast

Follow this walkthrough for perfectly cooked black beans in record time.

1. Pick Through and Rinse Beans

Pour dried beans onto a tray and remove any stones, debris or shriveled beans
Place beans in a colander and rinse under cool water until water runs clear

2. Quick Hot Soak (Optional)

Place rinsed beans in pot and cover with 2 inches of water
Bring to a boil for 1 minute then remove from heat
Let soak for 1 hour
Drain beans and return to pot

3. Add Fresh Water and Seasonings

Cover soaked beans with fresh cool water by 2-3 inches
Add any aromatics like onion, garlic, peppers, herbs
Season with a pinch or two of salt (optional)

4. Bring to a Boil Then Simmer

Set pot over high heat until water boils
Reduce heat to maintain a rapid simmer
Leave lid askew to allow steam to escape

5. Cook Until Tender

Cook 20-30 minutes for soaked beans, 40-60 for unsoaked
Check often toward end, beans should be just tender but not split
Add more water during cooking if needed

6. Drain and Serve, or Cool and Store

And that’s it – you’ve got a batch of homemade black beans in 30-60 minutes! Enjoy them right away, or cool, pack in containers and refrigerate up to one week or freeze for months.

Best Uses for Fast-Cooked Black Beans

Your freshly cooked black beans are ready to shine in all kinds of delicious dishes. Some tasty ways to use them include:

Black bean soup or chili
Tacos, burritos, quesadillas and tostadas
Veggie burgers or bean patties
Hearty dips like bean dip, hummus and salsa
Mexican-style rice and bean dishes
Veggie-packed salads and bowls
Bean spreads on toast or sandwiches

With so many options, you’ll be glad to have homemade black beans ready in a hurry!

Pressure Cooker Black Beans Recipe

To cook black beans extra fast, try this easy Instant Pot recipe.

Ingredients:

1 pound dried black beans, rinsed and picked over
6 cups water or broth
1 tsp salt
1 bay leaf (optional)

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in Instant Pot.
Secure the lid, ensuring the valve is in the “sealing” position.
Select the “Beans” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set time for 25 minutes.
Allow 10-15 minutes for natural pressure release, then open lid.
Check beans for tenderness. If needed, secure lid and cook at high pressure for 5 more minutes.
Remove bay leaf, season to taste and serve beans.

In 30 minutes or less you’ll have tender, flavorful black beans ready for anything! The speed and simplicity of the Instant Pot makes homemade beans an easy weeknight option.

More Tips for Faster Bean Cooking

Presoak beans overnight to reduce cook time by about 30 minutes
Open venting on pressure cooker for quicker depressurization
Transfer beans to a bowl, cover and let residual heat continue to soften for 5-10 minutes after cooking
Cook beans a day ahead; as they cool and sit they become more tender

Are Canned Beans Faster Than Homecooked?

Canned beans are undeniably convenient. But with the right techniques, you can achieve quick-cooked beans from scratch that are just as fast or faster than canned! Plus as a bonus you’ll get superior texture and flavor. With a little planning, homemade beans can absolutely become an easy weeknight option.

Next time a recipe calls for canned black beans, don’t hesitate to cook up your own pot of beans from dry instead. In around an hour or less, you’ll have a batch of beans that’s cheaper, tastier and more nutritious than any can.

how do i cook black beans fast

How to Store Black Beans?

When the beans are done cooking, put them in a large jar or container with a tight lid and put it in the fridge. I find they typically keep about five days. When they begin to get a little stinky, it’s time to send them to the compost. You can put the beans in a storage container and freeze them for another day if you get tired of them. Freezing impacts the texture a bit, but they remain very tasty. To defrost, leave them on the counter for a few hours or defrost overnight in the fridge.

A Simple Way to Cook Dried Beans

Everyone has a different opinion about the best way to cook dried beans. Some say you should soak them overnight first, but others say that’s unnecessary. Also, no one can agree on when to add the salt. All the fuss about this recipe doesn’t bother me; I just cook beans the way my friend Sara taught me. She’s from Guatemala, where beans are eaten on a daily basis. She manages to make a perfect pot every time.

Although black beans take time to cook, it’s an easy task, since no hovering is required. Rely on an Instant Pot (recipe link below) if you want to speed up the process.

How to Cook Black Beans From Scratch (Stovetop and Instant Pot)

FAQ

How to speed up cooking black beans?

Soaking black beans speeds up the cooking time the next day. If you don’t have the time to soak, no worries! Your unsoaked beans will cook (promise). To cook dried black beans, add them to a pot with aromatics (garlic, onion, and bay leaf) and enough cold water to cover them by 3 to 4 inches.

Can I cook black beans without soaking?

There’s a clear winner here: to cook the non-soaked beans, all you have to do is add water and go. They softened up in less than an hour and a half—a mere 20 minutes longer than the soaked beans’ 1 hour cook time. And it meant that I didn’t have to worry about remembering to soak them the night before.

What is the fastest way to cook beans?

Heat to boiling; boil for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and soak for up to 4 hours. Hot soaking is the preferred method since it reduces cooking time, helps dissolve some of the gas-causing substances in beans, and most consistently produces tender beans. Quick Soak: This is the fastest method.

How to cook beans in 5 minutes?

Place the beans in the Instant Pot and cover with plenty of cold water (6-8 cups for 1 pound of beans). Select the Pressure Cook setting at high pressure for 5 minutes.