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.
Cooking beans from scratch can be time-consuming. Traditionally, beans need to soak overnight before they can be cooked. However, using a pressure cooker like the Instant Pot eliminates the need for presoaking beans. You can cook unsoaked dried beans in an Instant Pot in just 30-40 minutes.
In this detailed guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know to cook perfect beans in your Instant Pot every time:
Do Beans Need to Be Soaked Before Cooking in an Instant Pot?
No, you do not need to soak beans before cooking them in the Instant Pot. The high pressure environment inside an electric pressure cooker allows beans to cook fully in a fraction of the normal time.
Presoaking beans before cooking does shorten the cook time slightly, but only by around 5-10 minutes. For most people, the small time savings isn’t worth the extra effort of soaking beans overnight.
The beauty of the Instant Pot is that you can start with completely unsoaked beans and have a tender, cooked batch of beans ready in about an hour. No planning ahead required!
What Types of Beans Can Be Cooked in the Instant Pot?
You can cook any variety of dried beans in the Instant Pot! Kidney beans, black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, lima beans, and white beans are all great options
Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) can also be cooked in the Instant Pot, but they typically take 5-10 minutes longer than other beans.
The cooking time will vary slightly depending on the size and variety of the bean
- Black beans – 30 minutes
- Pinto beans – 30 minutes
- Kidney beans – 35 minutes
- Garbanzo beans – 40 minutes
- Navy beans – 25 minutes
- Lima beans – 25 minutes
- Black-eyed peas – 15 minutes
Always allow the pressure to release naturally after cooking beans. This helps keep the beans intact and prevents them from bursting
How Much Water Is Needed for Cooking Beans?
The amount of water needed depends on how you plan to use the cooked beans:
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If making bean soups, casseroles, etc., use 8 cups of water per 1 pound of dried beans.
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If planning to use beans on their own, like in burrito bowls, use 6 cups of water per 1 pound of beans. The less water makes the cooking liquid thicker and more flavorful.
For reference, here are some common bean to water conversions:
- 1 pound of dried beans = 2–3 cups of dried beans
- 2 cups dried beans = 6–7 cups cooked beans
- 1 1/2 cups cooked beans = 1 (15 ounce) can of beans
Step-by-Step Instructions for Cooking Unsoaked Beans
Cooking unsoaked beans in an Instant Pot is simple. Follow these steps for perfect tender beans every time:
1. Rinse the Beans
Rinse the dried beans thoroughly under running water. Pick through and remove any stones or debris.
2. Add Beans and Water to the Instant Pot
Add beans and fresh water to the Instant Pot inner pot. See above for recommended bean-to-water ratios.
3. Add Seasonings (Optional)
For extra flavor, you can add seasonings like onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, etc. Add these now before cooking.
4. Pressure Cook Beans
Lock the lid on the Instant Pot. Select the Manual or Pressure Cook setting and adjust the cook time based on the type of beans used. Set the pressure valve to Sealing.
5. Allow Pressure to Release Naturally
When beans are done, allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 10 minutes before doing a quick pressure release.
6. Drain and Serve Beans
Open the Instant Pot. Drain excess liquid from beans if needed. Beans are now ready to use in recipes!
Tips for Cooking Perfect Instant Pot Beans Every Time
Here are a few extra tips to help you nail delicious homemade beans in your Instant Pot:
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Always use a natural pressure release to prevent blowing out the skins of beans.
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For older beans, increase cook time by 5-10 minutes. Fresher beans cook quicker.
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Don’t overload the Instant Pot. Cook 1 pound of beans at a time max.
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Add a tablespoon of oil to prevent foam while cooking.
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Flavor beans with onions, broth, spices like cumin, etc.
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Make a big batch and freeze leftovers for quick meals later!
How Long Does It Take to Cook 1 Pound of Unsoaked Beans?
The total time to cook a pound of dried beans in the Instant Pot breaks down as:
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5 minutes prep time to rinse and add beans and water
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30-40 minutes pressure cook time, depending on bean variety
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10-30 minutes for pressure to release naturally
So the total time will be around 45 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, with very little hands-on effort required.
The hour of cook and release time happens hands-off while you’re free to do other tasks. And you skip the overnight soak completely!
Sample Cook Times for Common Bean Varieties
To give you an idea of real cook times, here are examples for a few popular bean varieties:
Black beans:
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Prep time: 5 minutes
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Pressure cook: 30 minutes
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Natural release: 15 minutes
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Total time: 50 minutes
Garbanzo beans:
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Prep time: 5 minutes
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Pressure cook: 40 minutes
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Natural release: 15 minutes
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Total time: 60 minutes
Pinto beans:
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Prep time: 5 minutes
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Pressure cook: 30 minutes
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Natural release: 15 minutes
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Total time: 50 minutes
As you can see, unsoaked beans take less than an hour hands-off time in the Instant Pot. Much faster than the traditional overnight soak and 4+ hours simmering on the stove!
When Should You Soak Beans Before Cooking in the Instant Pot?
While soaking isn’t required, there are a couple scenarios where you may want to soak beans first:
To reduce gas: Some people find presoaking helps reduce the gas caused by beans. Soaking lets beans begin to sprout and start breaking down the indigestible sugars.
For older beans: Beans that have been stored for a long time may benefit from an overnight soak. This helps rehydrate them before cooking.
If you do choose to soak beans first, decrease the pressure cook time by 5-10 minutes.
Common Questions about Cooking Beans in an Instant Pot
How long do beans last in the fridge after cooking in the Instant Pot?
Cooked beans last 4-5 days refrigerated. Freeze any extras for longer storage.
Do all Instant Pot models cook beans the same?
Yes, all Instant Pot models will cook beans using the same times in this guide. Cook times don’t vary between models.
Why are my Instant Pot beans still hard after cooking?
Undercooked beans are usually caused by an improper seal or not enough cook time. Make sure the sealing ring is snapped in place and cook beans for the full recommended time.
Put Your Instant Pot to Work with Delicious Bean Recipes!
Now that you know how easy it is to cook dried beans in the Instant Pot, you can start enjoying fast, homemade beans any night of the week.
Whip up a batch on the weekend to use in burritos, rice bowls, soups, and more all week long. With just a bit of planning, homemade beans can become a regular part of your healthy, homecooked diet.
Here are some of my favorite Instant Pot bean recipes to get you started:
- 15-Minute Instant Pot Hummus
- Indian-Spiced Chickpeas and Spinach
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
- Instant Pot Three Bean Chili
- Instant Pot Refried Beans
- Easy Instant Pot Bean Soup
So grab a bag of dried beans and your Instant Pot to unleash the possibilities. Never settle for bland canned beans again when you can make your own superior beans in under an hour!
Instant Pot Bean Cook Time
- Black Beans–30 Minutes on High Pressure
- Chickpeas–40 Minutes on High Pressure
- Kidney Beans–35 Minutes on High Pressure
- Pinto Beans–25 Minutes on High Pressure
- Navy Beans–25 Minutes on High Pressure
- Great Northern Beans– on 35 Minutes High Pressure
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.
