How Long Should You Cook Ham and Beans to Get Them Perfectly Tender?

Cooking up a pot of ham and beans is a classic, hearty, and comforting meal. This dish is simple, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor. However, to get the beans perfectly tender without turning them into mush can be a bit tricky. So how long should you cook ham and beans?

There are a few factors that determine the cooking time for dried beans:

The Type of Bean

Different varieties of beans have different cooking times. Smaller beans like lentils and split peas cook faster, while larger beans like kidney, pinto and black beans take longer to soften. Great northern and navy beans are medium-sized and tend to cook in 1-2 hours

Here are approximate cooking times for common dried beans

• Split peas, lentils – 30-60 minutes
• Black beans, pinto beans – 1-1.5 hours
• Kidney beans, great northern beans – 1-2 hours
• Lima beans, fava beans – 1-2 hours

So if using great northern beans like in traditional ham and bean recipes, expect them to take 1-2 hours to become tender.

Age of the Beans

The older the dried beans, the longer they will take to rehydrate and soften during cooking. Very old beans may never fully soften no matter how long they cook. For best results, try to use beans that are from a new crop or package. Check the ‘best by’ date and the general appearance and feel of the beans. They should be relatively unblemished and not shriveled.

If you’re unsure of the bean’s age, it’s a good idea to err on the side of extra cooking time to ensure they become tender. Older beans may need up to 4 hours of cooking.

Cooking Method

The way you cook beans also impacts the cooking time. Stovetop boiling generally takes less time than slow cooking in a Crock Pot or Instant Pot. Here are some general guidelines for cooking times based on method:

• Stovetop – 1-2 hours
• Slow cooker on high – 3-4 hours
• Slow cooker on low – 6-8 hours
• Pressure cooker – 25-40 minutes

When cooking beans on the stovetop, make sure the heat is high enough to maintain a gentle but steady simmer. Too high of a boil can cause the beans to break down too quickly.

Desired Texture

Personal taste preferences also come into play. Some people like their beans to have a slight firmness while others prefer them ultra soft and creamy. If you tend to like softer beans, cook them longer. Check them periodically once they start becoming tender.

It can also be helpful to remove a few beans and test them before deciding the beans are fully cooked. Beans will continue to soften as they cool so take that into account when tasting.

Tips for Cooking Ham and Beans

• Start with dried beans that have been sorted and rinsed. Discard any beans that are discolored or shriveled.

• Soak the beans in water for 8-12 hours before cooking to decrease the cooking time. Be sure to drain and rinse the soaked beans before cooking.

• Add a ham bone, ham hock or diced ham to the beans while cooking. The meat adds extra flavor.

• Keep the stove at a low simmer, avoid boiling rapidly.

• Check beans at 1 hour intervals. beans should start to become tender around the 1 hour mark.

• Stir the pot occasionally to ensure even cooking.

• Add more hot water if needed to keep the beans submerged.

• Season with salt, pepper, onions, garlic, bay leaves and other spices for flavor. Avoid adding salt before beans are tender.

• Fully cooked, tender beans will be easy to squash between two fingers.

• Let the pot sit for 5-10 minutes after turning off heat to allow beans to further absorb liquid.

• Adjust consistency if needed by adding more cooking liquid.

Sample Ham and Bean Recipes and Cooking Times

To give you an idea of actual cooking times, here are some popular ham and bean recipes from cooking sites and their stovetop bean cooking times:

Ham and Beans (Allrecipes.com)

• 1 pound great northern beans (soaked overnight)
• Cooked ham and ham bone
• Aromatics like onion, garlic, bay leaf
• Simmered for 1 1/2 – 2 hours until tender

Old-Fashioned Ham and Beans (JustAPinch.com)

• 1 pound great northern beans (soaked overnight)
• Ham bone and diced ham
• Onion, garlic, seasoning
• Simmered for 2-3 hours

Classic Ham and Bean Soup (TheSpruceEats.com)

• 1 pound great northern beans (soaked 4-8 hours)
• Ham bone and diced ham
• Carrots, onion, celery, seasoning
• Simmered for 1 1/2 hours

Split Pea Ham Soup (CookieAndKate.com)

• 1 pound split peas (no soaking)
• Ham bone and ham pieces
• Onion, garlic, carrots, bay leaf
• Simmered for 2 hours

As you can see, most ham and bean recipes call for a 1 1/2 – 3 hour cooking time for soaked great northern beans simmered on the stovetop with a ham bone or ham pieces. This ensures the beans become very soft and absorb all the smoky ham flavor.

Getting tender, creamy beans is key to a satisfying pot of ham and beans. Plan on simmering soaked great northern beans for 1-2 hours on the stovetop. Check frequently after the first hour and taste test for doneness. Cook longer if needed, up to 3 hours, especially if the beans are old. Adding a ham bone or ham pieces while cooking adds extra flavor. With this simple, budget-friendly dish, low and slow is the way to go for bean perfection.