In the five years I’ve been writing professional recipes, one thing has become very clear: most people, even skilled cooks, don’t like making dried beans from scratch. They want to do it, but they’ve failed too many times and have given up. Now they’ll just eat canned food.
People first have trouble because they don’t know if they should soak the beans or not. If they do decide to soak, they have to plan ahead, which no one has time for (I have a solution—see below!) The most common problem, though, is beans whose skins have burst.
I eat a lot of beans and many of my meals are built around them because I don’t cook with meat or dairy. Over the years, I’ve cooked a lot of pots of beans and have learned a few tricks that always make the beans turn out perfectly. Every. single. time. Jump To…show.
Dried beans are a pantry staple that make for an inexpensive, protein-packed addition to soups, stews, chilis, and more. But before you can enjoy their tender texture and rich flavor, you have to cook them properly. If you opt for dried red beans, how long should you expect the cooking process to take?
An Overview of Cooking Time
On average dried red beans take 1-2 hours to become perfectly tender when cooked on the stovetop. However cook times can vary based on a few factors
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Bean freshness – Older beans tend to take longer to hydrate and soften. Fresh dried beans cook more quickly.
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Soaking – Presoaking beans shortens the cooking time Beans soaked overnight may cook in as little as 1 hour Unsoaked beans take closer to 2 hours.
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Variety – Although they look similar, not all red beans have the same composition Kidney beans, small red beans, and adzuki beans have slight differences in starch and fiber content that impact cook times
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Altitude – Beans cooked at high altitudes above 3,000 feet may need extra time to become tender due to the lower boiling point of water.
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Stovetop vs. pressure cooker – Using a pressure cooker can dramatically speed up cooking to as little as 20-30 minutes but this isn’t required.
Step-by-Step Stovetop Method
For stovetop cooking, here are the basic steps and approximate cook times:
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Soak beans for 8 hours or overnight. Cover beans with triple their volume in water. The hydration process starts to soften the beans and reduces cook time.
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Drain soaked beans. Discard soaking water which contains indigestible sugars that cause gas. Give beans a quick rinse.
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Simmer for 60-120 minutes. Place beans in a pot and cover with fresh water by a few inches. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered, adding more water if needed.
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Begin checking at 60 minutes. Beans at lower elevations may be done at 1 hour. Higher elevations or older beans may need the full 2 hours.
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Test doneness. Beans are done when totally tender but still hold their shape. Mash a bean against the pot; it should crush easily.
Ensuring Creamy, Intact Beans
For the best bean texture:
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Don’t add salt or acids like tomatoes early on as this can toughen the beans. Wait until after simmering.
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Make sure beans are covered by at least an inch of water at all times.
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Avoid boiling vigorously which can burst bean skins. Gentle simmering hydrates beans evenly.
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Cool beans in their liquid before refrigerating to prevent drying out.
With the proper prep and cooking, dried red beans deliver their trademark creamy, meaty texture and earthy, rustic flavor. The 1-2 hour simmer time is well worth the wait! Patience and a few simple techniques give you pots of delicious beans perfect for chili.
How to Cook Dried Beans on the Stove
Here’s my guide for how to cook the best dried beans from scratch. This process works for all types of beans: white, black, kidney, pinto, etc. This guide does not pertain to chickpeas or lentils.
Step 2: Choose the right pot.
When cooked, dried beans triple in size, so pick a pot that can hold them when they’re fully grown. As long as the beans are snug in the pot, they shouldn’t be swimming in an absurdly large amount of water. If there’s way more water than beans in the pot, you risk them becoming waterlogged. (I use a 3-quart pot to cook 1 pound of beans. ).
How To Soak And Cook Kidney Beans
FAQ
How long do you cook dry red beans for?
Can you cook red beans without soaking them?
How long do dried beans need to soak before cooking?