How Long Should You Cook Beans in a Pressure Cooker for Perfect Results Every Time?

To cook dried beans in an Instant Pot, you don’t need to soak them first. This is the EASIEST and quickest way to cook dried beans successfully.

You should get one as soon as possible, like yesterday! I wasn’t sure about these magic pressure cooking pots, but I thought I owed it to you all to get one and see if all the hype was true.

Making Instant Pot Dried Beans is the best way to fall in love with your pressure cooker.

They are the BEST thing ever for busy people who still want to make home-cooked meals. It was crazy how fast my 5-ingredient pot roast was ready after being cooked in my Instant Pot for the first time with a frozen chuck roast. I was hooked right away!

So many of my favorite meals use beans, like Black Bean Tacos, Minestrone, and Tuscan White Bean Pasta. Being able to make beans quickly without soaking them first is like a dream come true for me.

And I have cooked dried beans that are ready to use in less than an hour and five minutes of prep time. Not only that, but pressure cooking the beans makes them the softest I’ve ever had. They feel better than canned beans.

As a busy home cook I love how using a pressure cooker can significantly reduce the cooking time for dried beans. While stovetop cooking can take a few hours pressure cooking beans cuts the time down to a fraction. But one question always comes up – how long should you cook beans in a pressure cooker? The cooking time can vary based on the type and size of bean.

In this article, I’ll share my tips and guidelines on pressure cooker bean cooking times. Whether you love hearty pinto beans nutty chickpeas or creamy black beans, using the right timing is key to perfectly cooked beans every time. Read on to learn how long to cook your favorite beans!

Why Pressure Cook Beans?

Using a pressure cooker is hands-down the fastest way to cook beans while retaining nutrients and flavor. Here are some of the benefits:

Speed – The pressurized environment allows beans to cook up to 70% faster compared to conventional cooking. Small beans can be ready in 15-20 minutes!
Convenience – With a pressure cooker, you don’t have to soak beans overnight. You can cook them from dry in less time.
Flavor – Pressure cooking draws out the delicious, savory flavors of the bean broth. The results taste far superior to canned beans.
Nutrition – Cooking beans under pressure helps them retain more nutrients compared to other cooking methods.

Factors That Affect Cooking Time

Several factors impact how long to cook beans in a pressure cooker, including:

Type of Beans

Smaller beans like lentils, split peas and black-eyed peas cook faster than larger beans like kidney, pinto and chickpeas.

Size and Age of Beans

Larger, older beans take longer to become tender. Sort through beans and remove any pebbles or defective ones prior to cooking.

Soaking Time

Soaking beans before pressure cooking significantly reduces the cooking time. Overnight soaking is ideal, but even quick-soaking speeds things up.

Quantity of Beans

Pressure cookers work best when at least half full. If cooking a small batch, add extra liquid so the volume isn’t too low.

Natural Bean Variability

Certain bean varieties are just slower to soften during cooking. Test a few beans toward the end of cooking to check doneness.

Guide to Pressure Cooker Cooking Times for Common Bean Varieties

Now that we’ve covered the factors that affect cooking time, let’s dive into specific timings. Here are pressure cooker cooking times for several popular bean varieties:

Small Beans (15-20 minutes)

Black beans – 15-18 minutes
Navy beans – 15-18 minutes
Pinto beans – 15-18 minutes
Lentils (green, brown) – 8 minutes
Split peas (green, yellow) – 6 minutes
Black-eyed peas – 10 minutes

Medium Beans (20-25 minutes)

Great northern beans – 20-22 minutes
Cannellini beans – 20-22 minutes
Cranberry beans – 20-25 minutes
Flageolet beans – 20-22 minutes

Large Beans (25-40 minutes)

Kidney beans – 25-30 minutes
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas) – 30-40 minutes
Fava beans – 25-35 minutes
Lima beans – 25-35 minutes

Note: The above times are for soaking beans overnight prior to pressure cooking. For unsoaked beans, increase cooking time by 50%.

Tips for Cooking Beans Perfectly in a Pressure Cooker

Follow these tips and tricks for tender, flavorful beans every time you use your pressure cooker:

Always start with sorted, rinsed beans. Discard any debris, pebbles or shriveled beans.
For even cooking, make sure beans are covered by at least 1 inch of water. Add more for larger batches.
Natural bean broth has the best flavor. Avoid adding salt or acidic ingredients before pressure cooking.
Use a quick release method to depressurize safely. Carefully open lid tilting away from you.
Check doneness and adjust seasoning after pressure cooking. Beans should be fork tender but not mushy.
If beans aren’t done, lock lid back on and cook for a few more minutes at pressure. Releasing too soon is a common mistake.
Let beans sit for 5-10 minutes after cooking to thicken broth. Stir gently to prevent crushing beans.

Sample Pressure Cooker Bean Recipes

Once you know the right cooking times, the possibilities for pressure cooked bean dishes are endless! Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

15 Minute Pressure Cooker Hummus – For fast homemade hummus with chickpeas.
Pressure Cooker Bean and Ham Soup – A savory, smoky bean soup.
Vegetarian Chili – A meatless chili with a mix of beans.
Pressure Cooker Indian Dal – Flavorful lentils.
White Chicken Chili – A hearty chicken and bean chili.

Get the Most from Your Pressure Cooker

Now that you know how long to cook various beans in the pressure cooker, you can start enjoying convenient, homemade beans any night of the week! Remember to adjust the timing based on whether you soaked them or not.

Pressure cooked beans make excellent side dishes, soups, dips and more. I recommend cooking a big batch and freezing leftovers in portion sizes to heat and enjoy later.

What’s your favorite type of bean to make in the pressure cooker? I’d love to hear about your experiences cooking beans under pressure. Share your tips and favorite bean recipes in the comments!

how long do you cook beans in a pressure cooker

How To Make Instant Pot Beans

Sort and rinse your dried beans. One last check to make sure there aren’t any rocks in them!
In your Instant Pot, put 8 cups of water and 1 pound of dried beans.
Cook on high pressure for the directed time.
Let the pressure drop naturally for at least 20 minutes after the cook time is over before you try to do a quick release of pressure.
Add a splash of apple cider vinegar and salt to the beans when they are done cooking. The beans taste better with salt, and the vinegar makes them easier to digest.
Some people like to store cooked beans in some of the cooking liquid to keep them moist and tender while they’re in the fridge. This isn’t required, but it’s a good idea.

How to Flavor Beans

I don’t like to cook dried beans in water only; I like to flavour them too. This step of course is optional but highly encouraged.

Add a bay leaf and half an onion to the beans and water.
After the beans are cooked, you should add salt or your own taco seasoning. Putting salt on dried beans BEFORE cooking them can make them take longer to break down and soften.

how long do you cook beans in a pressure cooker

Instant Pot Pinto Beans | HOW TO MAKE PERFECT PINTO BEANS | NO soaking necessary

FAQ

How long does it take to cook raw beans in a pressure cooker?

Add seasonings and beans in pressure cooker. Cover with about 1 1/2 inches of hot water over the level of the beans. Be sure to not fill the cooker over halfway. Cook for 22 to 30 minutes, depending on the variety.

Can you overcook beans in a pressure cooker?

Some beans will be overcooked and completely decimated, while others are still gritty or firm in the center. Soaking the beans not only helps them to cook more evenly, but it also helps make them more digestible.

What is the ratio of beans to water in a pressure cooker?

When cooking beans in the Instant Pot, you’ll use 2 1/2 cups of water for every 1 cup of dry beans. I’ve tried using less than that, but since beans expand as they cook, the ones that aren’t fully submerged in liquid will cook unevenly.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beans?

Takeaway. Cooking beans in an Instant Pot and slow cooker results in beans that are evenly cooked, intact, and creamy. Both methods were ranked as easy, however, considering the amount of cook time required for slow cooker beans, the Instant Pot method comes out on top.

How do you cook beans in a pressure cooker?

Add the beans to the electric pressure cooker and cover with 6 cups of water. Bring the water and beans to a boil using the electric pressure cookers saute function on high. Once the water comes to a boil, lid the pressure cooker and cook for 1 minute on high pressure. When 1 minute is up, carefully release the pressure manually.

How long does it take to cook black beans in a pressure cooker?

Once the cooker is up to pressure, soaked black beans, pressure released naturally, take 5 to 6 minutes to cook. Once the cooker is up to pressure, soaked black beans, pressure quick-released, take about 9 minutes to cook. Once the cooker is up to pressure, beans unsoaked but pressure quick-released, take about 20 minutes to cook.

How long does it take to Pressure Cook pinto beans?

Whichever way you cook your beans, be sure to budget the time for the pressure to come up and begin the actual pressure cooking, 10 to 15 minutes, depending on your pressure cooker. So, including the time it takes to come to pressure, you can have tender pinto beans in about 15 minutes. That’s with soaked beans and pressure naturally released.

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

For each type of bean, they were soaked overnight, cooked at High Pressure, then the Instant Pot was naturally released. Keep in mind that while you will set your cook time to the amount noted, actual cooking will take longer since the pressure cooker takes about 10 minutes to reach pressure.