This navy beans recipe of my mom’s makes a simple comfort food classic. Tender, seasoned white beans and veggies in a flavorful broth. Be sure to watch the how-to video located in the recipe card.
I learned a lot from my mom, but one thing we loved to do together was cook and talk about how much we loved good food. When she passed away, my Dad asked if I wanted anything of hers. My request was to go through her cookbooks and personal recipes. I love that I’m able to pass on my favorites and keep my memories of her alive.
Here is her simple, yet satisfying white beans recipe, which I’ve always loved. It’s a flavorful white bean soup. You can make the meal last longer by adding sliced franks or shredded meat. It’s also a great way to use up fresh vegetables and pantry staples you already have!
Navy beans are a type of white bean. They are also called pea beans because they are so small and round. Other common white beans are Great Northern, cannellini, fagioli, and lima. Although they grow differently, and vary in size and shape, all white beans are interchangeable in most recipes. They all have a white casing and starchy, creamy center.
You can use any kind of white bean that you like or already have on hand instead of navy beans in this recipe.
Navy beans also known as pea beans or haricot beans are a versatile legume that can be used in many dishes. However, before you can enjoy navy beans, you need to know how to properly cook them from their dried state. So how long do navy beans take to cook?
The cooking time for navy beans can vary quite a bit depending on a few key factors:
Soaking Time
Soaking is essential for evenly hydrating the beans and reducing the final cooking time. Beans that have been soaked will cook faster than beans that go straight from dry to the cooking pot.
There are two soaking methods:
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Long soaking: Beans are soaked in water for 8-12 hours or overnight. This maximizes hydration.
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Quick soaking: Beans are boiled for 2 minutes, then soaked for 1 hour. This shortens total prep time.
Soaked beans can cook in as little as 45-60 minutes, while unsoaked beans may take up to 2 hours.
Cooking Liquid
The liquid used to cook navy beans will impact total cooking time. More liquid surrounding the beans allows them to absorb water faster and cook quicker. Recommended cooking liquid ratios are:
- 4 cups liquid to 1 cup dried beans
- 10 cups liquid to 1 pound dried beans
Too little liquid may lead to uneven cooking and overly firm beans, requiring a longer cook time.
Heat Level
Navy beans should be simmered gently during cooking. A vigorous boil can cause them to break down too quickly. Lower heat allows them to cook through evenly.
Here are simmering tips:
- Maintain a gentle bubble, not a full rolling boil
- Use low to medium heat on the stovetop
- Use a slow cooker on low or high setting
Higher heat levels can cut the cook time, but may cause beans to become mushy.
Bean Freshness
The age of dried beans can affect how long they take to become tender during cooking. Very old beans stored for over a year may take longer to hydrate and cook.
For best results:
- Purchase beans within the current year
- Store beans in an airtight container in a cool, dark place
- Discard any shriveled or discolored beans
Fresh beans within a few months of harvest will cook most quickly.
Altitude
Higher altitudes above sea level can increase cook times for beans and other foods. The lower air pressure causes boiling points to decrease, so liquids simmer at a lower temperature.
To compensate at altitudes above 3000 feet, try:
- Adding slightly more liquid
- Simmering for 30-60 minutes longer
- Using a pressure cooker to cook faster
Bean Variety
While navy beans are relatively quick cooking, cook times can vary slightly between different bean varieties. Large beans may take a little longer than smaller beans.
Some guidelines for common bean varieties:
- Navy beans: 45-90 minutes
- Pinto beans: 45-90 minutes
- Black beans: 60-90 minutes
- Kidney beans: 45-90 minutes
- Garbanzo beans: 60-90 minutes
So check your package for exact bean type if following a recipe.
Preparation Tips for Best Results
Follow these simple tips for tender navy beans in the shortest time:
- Pick over beans to remove debris, then rinse
- Soak beans for 8-12 hours or quick soak for 1 hour
- Use ample cooking liquid, 4 cups for every 1 cup beans
- Keep heat at a gentle simmer to cook evenly
- Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking
- Start checking doneness at 45 minutes
- Cook soaked beans 45-60 minutes, unsoaked beans 60-90 minutes
How Can You Tell When Navy Beans Are Done?
Navy beans are done cooking when:
- Beans are plump, tender and creamy, not firm or crunchy
- Skins are fully hydrated and somewhat wrinkled
- Inside of bean is soft all the way through
- Beans can be slightly mashed between fingers
Undercooked beans will be dry, gritty and split apart when pressed. Ovecooked beans will be mushy and start breaking down.
The ideal is tender beans that hold their shape well. Test a few beans after 45 minutes and then every 10-15 minutes until satisfied with the texture.
Serving Navy Beans After Cooking
Once your navy beans are perfectly cooked, here are some serving suggestions:
- Add beans to soups, stews and chilis
- Make bean dip or sandwich spreads
- Toss beans in green salads or grain bowls
- Mash beans with olive oil and garlic for refried beans
- Puree beans into dips like hummus
- Mix beans with rice or quinoa
- Serve beans warm in burritos and tacos
Let beans cool in their cooking liquid before storing for later use. They can be refrigerated up to 5 days.
Troubleshooting Very Firm Navy Beans
If your navy beans are still quite hard and crunchy after an hour of cooking, here are some fixes:
- Simmer longer, testing every 10-15 minutes for doneness
- Add more liquid to allow beans to absorb water
- Make sure heat is low enough to gently simmer
- Try a quick release pressure cooker for tender beans fast
With the proper preparation and cooking technique, you can enjoy perfectly cooked navy beans with a tender bite. Adjusting the key factors of soaking time, cooking liquid, heat level, bean freshness and altitude will allow you to master the answer to “how long do navy beans take to cook?”
Video: Making Mom’s white beans recipe
The meal comes together really quickly after soaking the beans in water overnight.
See me make the navy white bean soup from start to finish in the video in the recipe card below.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
Nothing complicated about the ingredients in this white beans recipe. It calls for staple soup ingredients; onion, carrots and celery. To help flavor the broth, there’s a bit of crushed garlic and thyme.
For a heartier meal, you can add any type of cooked protein. Oftentimes, I like to add shredded chicken, leftover holiday ham or boneless turkey breast. It could be like Olive Garden’s pasta fagioli if you use fagioli beans, cook pasta, and add Italian sausage.
How to Prepare Navy Beans for Cooking
FAQ
How long does it take to cook dried navy beans?
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Bean Type
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Soaking Time
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Cooking Time
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Green Lentils
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none
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45 minutes to 1 hour
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Green Split Peas
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none
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35 to 45 minutes
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Kidney Beans, dark red
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6 to 8 hours*
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1 ½ to 2 hours
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Navy Beans
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6 to 8 hours*
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1 to 1 1/2 hours
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Can you cook navy beans without soaking them?
How do I know if navy beans are cooked?
Is it absolutely essential to soak navy beans before cooking them?
How long does it take to cook navy beans on the stove?
On average, it takes about 1 to 1.5 hours to cook navy beans on the stove after soaking them. However, the cooking time may vary depending on the freshness of the beans and the stove’s heat intensity. Can I add salt while cooking navy beans on the stove?
What is the best way to eat beans?
The best way to eat beans is to first cook them in a large pot of water, about 4 cups of water to every 1 cup of beans. Adding lemon grass or other herbs to the water can improve the flavor. Once beans are cooked the best thing to do is combine them with cooked rice, this is because beans are low in methionine and rice is low in lysine, so combining them makes a more complete protein.
How long do you cook canned navy beans?
Canned navy beans are already soaked and pre-cooked, so they are already tender. You only need to heat them through for your recipe. Typically, simmering them for 5-10 minutes in a sauce, soup, or stew is plenty long enough. All you need to prep is;
How long do you cook soaked navy beans?
Once your navy beans are soaked, it’s time to cook them: Drain and rinse your soaked navy beans. In a large pot, add the beans and enough water or stock to cover them by about an inch. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover it. Simmer the beans for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until they are tender.