Learning how to cook beans in the Instant Pot was a game changer for me. It took my meal prep and batch cooking game from slow and clunky to effortless and quick.
Before getting an Instant Pot, I relied exclusively on canned beans. I never really liked the taste of them, but I figured it was the only quick thing I could do. I had no interest in babysitting a pot of beans on the stove for 2 hours. And I really didn’t enjoy periodically piercing the beans for doneness.
Luckily, it could not be easier to cook beans in the Instant Pot. Just toss the beans in the Instant Pot with some liquid and seasonings and walk away!.
This guide on how to cook beans in an Instant Pot should be helpful to you. It comes with two simple recipes for cooking beans in an Instant Pot that you don’t have to do yourself.
And if you want more Instant Pot bean recipes, check out my book, The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook! It’s full of tasty, indulgent, but healthy bean recipes!
Cooking beans from scratch is economical, healthy, and downright delicious But it can also be time-consuming and tedious if using traditional stovetop methods. That’s where the pressure cooker comes in! Pressure cooking pre-soaked beans cuts the cooking time drastically while still resulting in tender, flavorful beans
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about pressure cooking pre-soaked beans, including:
- Why soak beans before pressure cooking
- How long to soak different types of beans
- Exact pressure cook times for pre-soaked beans
- Tips for ensuring tender beans every time
- Common questions answered
Plus we’ll share some of our favorite instant pot bean recipes so you can start enjoying delicious homemade beans in no time!
Why Soak Beans Before Pressure Cooking
Soaking dried beans before pressure cooking offers several benefits
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Shortens cook time – Hydrating the beans through soaking allows them to cook faster compared to unsoaked beans. Soaked beans cook in about 1/3 of the time.
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Improves digestibility – Beans contain complex sugars that can cause gas and bloating. Soaking helps break down these sugars.
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Increases nutrient availability – Soaking reduces phytic acid and other compounds that can inhibit nutrient absorption.
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Enhances flavor – Many people find soaked beans to have a richer, more nuanced flavor compared to unsoaked.
So for the fastest, most easily digested beans with the best texture and flavor, soaking is the way to go.
How Long to Soak Different Beans
Soaking times can vary based on the type and size of the bean. Here are general guidelines:
- Small beans (lentils, split peas): 2-4 hours
- Medium beans (black beans, chickpeas): 8-12 hours
- Large beans (kidney, pinto, navy): 12-24 hours
Make sure beans are covered by at least 2 inches of water while soaking. After soaking, drain the water and give beans a quick rinse before cooking.
Frequency of entities:
Black beans – 3
Chickpeas – 2
Kidney beans – 2
Lentils – 1
Navy beans – 1
Pinto beans – 1
Split peas – 1
Pressure Cook Times for Pre-Soaked Beans
Thanks to soaking, pre-soaked beans cook remarkably fast in the instant pot. Here are approximate cook times for common beans:
- Black beans: 22-25 minutes
- Black-eyed peas: 8 minutes
- Cannellini beans: 10 minutes
- Chickpeas/garbanzo beans: 12-15 minutes
- Great northern beans: 12 minutes
- Kidney beans: 25 minutes
- Lentils: 8 minutes
- Lima beans: 4 minutes
- Navy beans: 11 minutes
- Pinto beans: 10-15 minutes
These cook times are based on cooking 1 cup of dried beans soaked overnight and cooked with 2 cups broth or water at high pressure in a 6-8 quart instant pot. Naturally release pressure for 10 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.
Pro Tip: Add 5-10 extra minutes to cook time if cooking a larger quantity of beans.
Frequency of entities:
Black beans – 2
Black-eyed peas – 1
Cannellini beans – 1
Chickpeas – 2
Garbanzo beans – 1
Great northern beans – 1
Kidney beans – 2
Lentils – 2
Lima beans – 2
Navy beans – 2
Pinto beans – 2
Tips for Tender Pre-Soaked Beans
Follow these tips for tender, perfectly cooked beans every time:
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Sort and rinse: Pick through beans and discard any shriveled or discolored ones. Rinse thoroughly.
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Soak in salty water: Adding a teaspoon of salt to the soaking water enhances flavor.
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Pressure cook in broth: Cooking in broth instead of plain water boosts flavor.
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Add acid after cooking: Acidic ingredients like tomato sauce can prevent softening. Add after beans are tender.
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Check doneness: If beans aren’t as tender as desired after pressure cooking, simmer with lid off until done.
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Use cooking liquid: The seasoned cooking liquid makes a delicious bean broth for soups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to soak beans before pressure cooking?
Soaking is recommended but not required. Unsoaked beans will take close to double the cook time. Soak for best results.
What is the minimum soaking time?
A brief 2-4 hour soak will yield slightly faster cook times. For optimal results, soak at least 8-12 hours.
Can I soak beans too long?
There’s no need to soak longer than 24 hours. The beans won’t get any more hydrated or easier to digest after that.
Do I need to change the soaking water?
Changing the water during soaking isn’t necessary. Simply drain and rinse before cooking.
Should I rinse beans after soaking?
Yes, give soaked beans a quick rinse to remove any residual sugars or starches on the surface.
Can I reuse bean soaking liquid?
It’s best to discard the bean soaking water since it contains indigestible compounds that have leached out.
Satisfying Instant Pot Bean Recipes
Once you’ve mastered cooking soaked beans in the instant pot, try these flavorful bean recipes:
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15-Minute Instant Pot Refried Beans – Perfectly smooshy beans for tacos and burritos.
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Instant Pot Three Bean Chili – A protein-packed vegetarian chili.
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Instant Pot Hummus – Creamy chickpea hummus ready in minutes.
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Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice – A New Orleans classic, now fast in the pressure cooker.
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Instant Pot Minestrone Soup – Hearty veggie-packed bean soup.
So whip up a batch of soaked beans in the instant pot, then use them in one of these quick and easy bean recipes! With the time you’ll save by soaking, you can spend more time enjoying the finished dish.
1 pound beans + 5-6 cups of water + 2 to 2 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Not kosher salt? That’s the same as 1 to 1 and a half teaspoons of table salt or sea salt.
Regarding the cook time for specific bean varieties, I have a few things to say. First, in my cookbook The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook, you’ll find a very handy bean chart. It includes my tested cook times for both soaked and unsoaked beans for the most popular types of beans. If that’s not reason enough to buy my book, I don’t know what is!
You can’t get the whole cook time chart out of my book, so here are some general rules for cook times:
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Unsoaked Beans: 30-40 minutes
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Soaked Beans: 8-12 minutes
How to Add Flavor to Instant Pot Beans
If simple cooked beans in water is your jam, I am not going to hate on your game. If you have some extra time, though, I think you should spice up your beans in these ways.
- Cook beans in vegetable broth instead of water. This adds some more savory flavor. You can even use half broth-half water.
- Add flavoring agents to the cooking water. I almost always add black pepper and bay leaves. I add a mix of the following, depending on the type of food I’m making or the flavor I want: cumin seeds and coriander seeds; ginger slices; sliced jalapeño or serrano peppers; whole herb stalks like thyme, oregano, and rosemary; vegetable bouillon cubes; and chopped vegetables like onions, shallots, carrots, or celery.
- Don’t forget the salt! Adding salt to the beans while they cook gives each one flavor from the inside out. If you wait until the very end to salt the beans, they will be either too salty or not flavorful.