In less than an hour, you can make easy Instant Pot kidney beans that don’t need to be soaked. Why buy canned kidney beans when you can make your own at home? They taste better and have less salt.
Today we’re going to learn how to cook Instant Pot Kidney Beans. I’ll share everything I know about using an electric pressure cooker to cook kidney beans.
If you like cooking from scratch with dried beans but forget to soak them first, I have great news for you: the Instant Pot changes the way you cook beans forever. Pressure cooking beans is quick, easy, and tasty, and you don’t even have to soak them first! Every time, the beans will be just right.
The Instant Pot Kidney Beans Recipe is similar to our Instant Pot Chickpeas Recipe in that it makes plain kidney beans that only need a little salt. You can use them in any recipe that calls for canned beans, but be ready for much tastier beans!
Here’s how to change the recipe to make saucy, seasoned beans like our Spicy Instant Pot Black Beans or Instant Pot Pinto Beans, which are ready to serve. We’ll talk about adding some aromatics and letting the broth simmer.
How Long Does It Take to Cook Kidney Beans in an Instant Pot? A Detailed Guide
Cooking beans from scratch can be intimidating. Soaking, boiling, watching pots for hours – it’s easy to see why many of us opt for the convenience of canned beans. But cooking beans in an instant pot makes the process fast, easy, and hands-off. In about an hour, you can have perfectly cooked kidney beans ready for any recipe.
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to cook kidney beans in an instant pot. We’ll cover proper ratios, cook times, release methods, tips for preventing common mistakes, and how to tell when your beans are done.
Here are the key factors that determine cook time for kidney beans in an instant pot:
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Bean to Water Ratio The ratio of beans to water is crucial The standard ratio is 1 35 – that’s 1 cup of dried beans to 3,5 cups of water, Having the right amount of water allows the beans to cook evenly and prevents scorching,
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Cook Time: Most recipes call for cooking kidney beans for 40-45 minutes on high pressure in an instant pot. 40 minutes yields firm beans while 45 minutes gives you more tender beans.
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Release Method: After cook time is up, you’ll want to naturally release for 15 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure. The natural release time allows beans to continue to gently cook without losing shape.
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Soaking One of the beauties of using an instant pot is that soaking is not required! You can cook beans straight from dried with great results
Step-by-Step Instant Pot Kidney Beans
Let’s walk through the process from start to finish:
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Add beans and water: Place dried kidney beans and water in the instant pot using a 1:3.5 ratio. Stir briefly to prevent sticking.
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Pressure cook: Secure the lid and set the instant pot to high pressure for 40-45 minutes, depending on your desired firmness. It will take 8-10 minutes for the pot to build pressure before the cook time begins.
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Natural release: When the cook time is complete, allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes.
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Quick release: After 15 minutes, manually quick release any remaining pressure.
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Check doneness: The beans should be tender but still hold their shape. If still quite firm, secure lid and pressure cook for an additional 5-10 minutes.
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Drain: Drain off any excess cooking liquid using a colander. The beans are now ready to use in recipes!
Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Kidney Beans
Here are some handy tips to ensure kidney bean success:
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Older beans will take longer to soften. Add 5-10 extra minutes if your beans are more than 6 months old.
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Altitude will increase cook time. Add 5 extra minutes if cooking at altitudes above 2000 feet.
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Natural release is key for evenly cooked beans. Always allow for the full 15 minute natural release.
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Don’t peek! Resist the urge to open the lid during cooking. This will disrupt the pressurization.
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Add aromatics at the end. Things like garlic, onion, herbs will get bitter if cooked at pressure. Stir them in after releasing.
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Use broth for bonus flavor. Substitute vegetable broth for the cooking water.
How Can You Tell When Beans Are Done?
Since you can’t see inside while beans are cooking, how do you know when they’re ready?
Here are some ways to check that your kidney beans are fully cooked:
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Take a bean and gently squeeze between your fingers. It should be tender throughout but still hold its shape.
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Bite into a bean. It should be uniformly soft without any crunchy center.
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Mash a few beans with a fork. They should easily crush into a smooth paste.
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Check the skins. Properly cooked beans will have tender, wrinkled skins that split when squeezed.
What About Other Bean Varieties?
While kidney beans are very common, the same principles apply when cooking other beans like black beans, pinto beans, navy beans, etc.
Simply adjust the cook time up or down 5-10 minutes depending on the size and sturdiness of the bean variety. Smaller beans like lentils and split peas cook faster while larger beans require more time.
You can also find our cook times for other bean varieties like chickpeas, cannellini beans, and black beans in our complete Instant Pot Bean Guide.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Now that you know the ins and outs of cooking kidney beans in an instant pot, it’s time to get cooking! With the simple 1:3.5 ratio, 40-45 minute cook time, and 15 minute natural release, you’ll have tender beans without any presoaking or hours of watching pots.
The possibilities are endless when you have perfectly cooked beans on hand. Whip up hearty chilis, vibrant salads, satisfying soups and stews, vibrant Mexican dishes, hearty vegetarian meals, and more. Just be sure to come back and leave a comment below on your favorite ways to use up homemade instant pot kidney beans!
How to Serve Kidney Beans
These pressure cooker kidney beans are ready to serve as is. Just sprinkle some salt on them and put them in any salad, meal bowl, or other dish. Or, use as an ingredient in soups, stews, curries, wraps, and more.
Kidney beans that have been seasoned are a great side dish. They taste great with rice and vegetables.
Salt may be all you need to season your beans, depending on how you plan to use them. Use a teaspoon of salt for every cup of dried beans.
There are several ways to season kidney beans so they are ready to eat right away. You can add your favorite flavors to the cooking water, such as onion, garlic, bay leaf, and so on. I also love smoked paprika and oregano with my beans. Cajun seasoning is classic with kidney beans, as are bell peppers, celery, and parsley.
When the beans are done cooking, give them a taste and add more salt and spices if you think they need it. If you want to add something acidic, like tomato or lemon, put it off until the very end. Fresh herbs are also a great option.
Like I did, if you make a lot of kidney beans (see: Batch Cooking for Beginners), you might want to separate them to store them.
How to Make Instant Pot Kidney Beans
Here are the exact steps: the printable recipe card is at the end of this post; but let’s go over them one by one first.
Step 1: Start by giving your dried kidney beans a good rinse. Check for any stones other debris, and discard broken beans.
Step 2: Put the dried kidney beans that haven’t been soaked into the insert of your instant pot. Add any spices or herbs and salt.
Step 3: Pour cold water over top. The formula I use is one cup of water per every 100 grams of dried kidney beans. I used one pound (454 grams) of dried kidney beans here, together with 4. 5 cups of water.
Step 4: Seal the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the vent is flipped to “Sealing”.
Step 5: Set to Manual / High pressure for 42 minutes. If you prefer slightly firmer beans you can opt for 40 minutes, or 45 minutes for softer beans. Usually I aim for the middle and do 42 minutes.
Step 6: After the pressure cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes. At that point, flip the vent to “Venting” to quick-release the remaining pressure.
Note! Letting the pressure release naturally results in a better bean. When you quickly release the pressure, the Instant Pot’s temperature rises very quickly, which makes the beans move around inside. This often results in mushy beans, which a natural release will avoid.
Kidney Beans (Instant Pot)
FAQ
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