How to Cook Kidney Beans from a Can: A Step-by-Step Guide

You know that beans are a must-have in your pantry if you like to meal prep or cook on a budget. They are easy to store, not too expensive, versatile, and very healthy. It’s not a surprise that a lot of people started stocking up when millions of Americans were told to stay home in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

In March 2020, the New York Times said that Goya Foods’ sales of black beans, pinto beans, and other canned goods went up by about 400%. Costco saw massive sales increases for staple goods, including beans. Rancho Gordo, a much smaller company known for its wide range of heirloom beans, saw sales quadruple and reach as high as 1,400 to 1,700 orders per day at one point.

Even though a lot of people love beans, they can be hard to cook sometimes, especially when they come in a dry package. And a pot of bad beans usually means throwing them away, which means not only a wasted meal but also money. Happy cooking! We have all the information you need to cook beans correctly, eat them before they go bad, and make more of them at home.

Kidney beans are a versatile and healthy staple that can be used in many dishes. While cooking dried kidney beans from scratch results in the best texture, canned kidney beans offer convenience. If you’re wondering how to prepare canned kidney beans, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the process.

Why Cook Canned Kidney Beans?

While canned kidney beans are fully cooked and edible straight from the can, taking a couple extra steps yields better flavor and texture. Here are some key reasons to cook canned beans

Improves flavor by allowing you to season the beans. Canned beans often have a plain flavor.
Allows you to control sodium content. Canned beans are packaged in a salty broth.
Removes excess starchiness from the canning process. This yields a better bean texture.
Lets you incorporate beans into dishes by heating thoroughly. Cold beans don’t work well in most recipes.

So while not mandatory, taking a few minutes to prepare canned beans is worthwhile!

Step 1: Drain and Rinse the Beans

Draining and rinsing is an important first step when cooking canned beans Here’s how

Open the can and pour the beans into a colander in the sink.
Rinse under cool running water for 15-30 seconds to wash away the salty canning liquid.
Give the colander a shake to drain away excess moisture.

Draining removes extra sodium from the canning liquid. Rinsing washes away starchiness.

Step 2: Add Beans to a Pan with Seasonings

After draining and rinsing, the beans are ready for flavor. Try this:

Heat 1 tsp oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add beans and 2-3 tbsp water or broth. This prevents scorching.
Add desired seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, etc.
Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until heated through.
Add more liquid if needed to prevent sticking.

Choose seasonings complementing your planned dish. Warming the beans infuses flavor.

Step 3: Incorporate Beans into Recipes

Once your beans are cooked, they can be used in recipes. Here are some tasty ways to use canned kidney beans:

Chili – Add to chili along with tomatoes, peppers, spices, and meat.
Rice bowls – Serve over rice with sautéed veggies for a balanced meal.
Tacos – Top hard or soft tacos with seasoned beans for protein.
Salad – Toss with greens, vegetables, dressing, and other mix-ins.
Soup – Put in minestrone, chili, or white bean soups.
Dip – Mash beans with garlic, lemon, and olive oil for a snack.
Casserole – Mix with cheese, veggies, and rice in a baked casserole.

Get creative with ways to include beans in meals! Warming them first allows their best texture and flavor.

Extra Tips for Cooking Canned Beans

Follow these additional tips for stellar canned kidney beans:

If time allows, drain and rinse beans up to 24 hours before cooking. Soaking removes more sodium.
Add acidic ingredients like tomatoes toward the end to preserve bean texture. Acid can toughen beans.
Cook over low heat and stir gently to keep beans intact. High heat and stirring can cause mushiness.
For convenience, cook beans in big batches. Portion and freeze for later use.
Spice it up by blending beans while warm. Then add to dips, spreads, soups.
Try other canned bean varieties like black, pinto, cannellini, and chickpeas.

Put Canned Beans to Use

With this handy guide, you can easily prepare canned kidney beans for use in a variety of dishes. Simply drain, rinse, and season the beans. Then incorporate them into tacos, salads, soups, casseroles, and more. With flavorful, tender canned beans, the possibilities are endless!

how do you cook kidney beans from a can

How to Cook Delicious Dried Beans

If you start with good quality dried beans (see above!), making them delicious is pretty easy. Here’s a step-by-step process for how to cook dried beans:

One cup of dry beans will cook into three cups of cooked beans. Sort the beans and remove any small stones or beans that aren’t the right color, are shrinking, or are damaged. Rinse under cold water.
If you want to soak beans, put them in cold, salty water and leave them at room temperature for 4 to 8 hours. Add more water if necessary to keep beans submerged. Put the beans in water for no more than 24 hours. If you do, they might start to ferment or sprout.
Put the beans in a heavy pot and cover them with cold water up to three inches deep. Salt it and add things that smell good, like celery, onion, garlic, thyme, leek, rosemary, sage, or bay leaf. You can add more flavor with spices like cumin, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, and chiles. You can also use meat (ham hock and smoked sausage are classic) or stock instead of some of the water. Important: Don’t add any acidic foods like tomatoes or lemon until after the beans are cooked. The acid will keep the beans from getting soft.
Bring the pot’s contents to a boil, then lower the heat to a low level.
Cook, stirring occasionally and adding more liquid if necessary. Depending on the type, it could take anywhere from an hour to three to four hours for unsoaked chickpeas or lima beans. Follow the directions on the package and keep checking to make sure they’re done. When beans are soft and cooked all the way through, but not mushy, and their skins begin to curl and wrinkle, they are done. Check several beans to account for variation in doneness.
Beans can be used immediately. To store, let the beans cool in their cooking liquid. Then, put them away with the cooking liquid for 4 to 5 days in the fridge or for up to 6 months in the freezer.

Buying Quality Beans

Dried beans generally have more flavor and allow more flexibility in the cooking process, but canned beans do provide a faster, more convenient alternative. The same quality rule applies here: Look for canned heirloom and organic bean options to maximize flavor. If you aren’t able to find or access higher-quality beans, use the tips below to help improve the flavor of whatever you’re working with.

How To Cook: Canned Kidney Beans

FAQ

How do I cook canned kidney beans?

For these bean varieties, a gentle simmer over medium to medium-low heat on the stovetop with 1/2 cup of water or broth for about 30 minutes will do the trick; this method will help them retain their shape and keep their interiors smooth and creamy.

Can you eat kidney beans straight out of the can?

Canned pre-cooked kidney beans present no problems. Some come packed in water, which is thickened by starches naturally produced by the beans, but it can also contain preservatives, so this should be rinsed away. For plenty of inspiration, try our collection of ultimate kidney bean recipes.

Do canned kidney beans need to be rinsed?

Do You Need To Rinse Canned Beans? According to The Bean Institute, you can reduce up to 41 percent of the sodium in canned beans by rinsing them. “It’s fine to add the bean liquid to many recipes, but if you want to reduce the amount of sodium, it’s best to drain and rinse canned beans,” the website states.