Find out everything you need to know about How to Cook Dried Beans in a CrockPot or Slow Cooker! I tried cooking beans that had been soaked and beans that had not been soaked. This post has everything you need to know to make perfect slow cooker beans.
It’s important to know how to cook dried beans in a crockpot slow cooker because this post explains why I believe it’s worth the time and effort to make your own beans from scratch. It also shows you how to easily cook dried beans in a slow cooker and discusses the differences in cooking times and outcomes between soaking and not soaking beans. This post has all the information you need to make perfect slow cooker beans.
After you learn how easy it is to cook dried beans in a slow cooker, you won’t want to buy canned beans again. Instead of buying canned beans, I think you should cook up a bunch of dried beans to store in the freezer. You’ll save money, and the beans you cook yourself will taste a lot better!.
Navy beans, also known as haricot beans, are a versatile legume enjoyed around the world. Their creamy texture and mild flavor make them an excellent addition to soups, stews, baked beans, and more. But first, the dried beans need to be softened. Using a crock pot is one of the easiest methods for getting tender, cooked navy beans perfect for any recipe.
Do Navy Beans Soften in a Crock Pot?
Yes, navy beans do soften when cooked in a crock pot or slow cooker. The low, steady heat and prolonged cooking time allows the beans to become completely tender With the right techniques, you can expect navy beans cooked in a crock pot to turn out soft and ready to eat after several hours
Compared to cooking on the stovetop, using a crock pot can make preparing dried beans like navy beans much simpler The crock pot does most of the work for you, slowly softening the beans to perfection With minimal effort, you’ll have a pot of soft, cooked navy beans ready for any recipe.
Tips for Softening Navy Beans in a Crock Pot
While it’s easy to soften navy beans in a crock pot, following a few tips will help ensure you achieve the best results:
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Soak the beans first: Soaking dried navy beans for 8-12 hours before cooking softens their outer skin and reduces cooking time. Be sure to drain and rinse the beans after soaking.
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Don’t skip the liquid: The beans need plenty of water or broth to soften up. Make sure beans are covered by at least 1-2 inches of liquid.
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Cook on low: Cook the beans at a low temperature setting for 6-10 hours. The gradual heat allows them to soften thoroughly.
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Avoid adding salt or acids early: Salt and acidic ingredients like tomatoes can prevent beans from softening properly, so add them late in cooking.
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Test frequently: Check beans every few hours, sampling a few to gauge tenderness. Cook longer if needed.
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Leave the lid on: Resist opening the lid often to allow beans to cook undisturbed. Peeking can increase cooking time.
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Natural release: Allow beans to sit in the cooker with the heat off for 1-2 hours before opening lid. This completes the softening process.
Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Navy Beans in a Crock Pot
Follow this simple step-by-step method for soft, tender navy beans using a crock pot:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried navy beans, soaked 8-12 hours
- 6 cups water or broth
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
- Drain and rinse soaked navy beans.
- Sauté onion and garlic with oil in skillet until soft.
- Place beans, sautéed aromatics, bay leaf, salt, and pepper into crock pot.
- Add water or broth until beans are covered by 1-2 inches.
- Cook on low setting for 8-10 hours.
- Check beans occasionally and add more liquid if needed.
- After cooking, leave beans in crock pot for 1-2 hours with heat off.
- Discard bay leaf before serving soft, tender beans.
How Long Does It Take to Soften Navy Beans in a Crock Pot?
On the low setting, navy beans take 8-10 hours to become completely soft and tender when cooked in a crock pot. Cooking time can vary a bit depending on the age of your beans, how well soaked they were, and the particular crock pot model.
Expect navy beans to take roughly:
- 8-10 hours on low
- 6-8 hours on high
Check the beans periodically as they cook. They may be ready in the shorter range if soaked well and not too old. Navy beans are done when fully softened and creamy all the way through.
Common Questions about Cooking Navy Beans in a Crock Pot
Do navy beans need to be soaked before using a crock pot?
Soaking is recommended but not strictly necessary. Soaked beans soften more quickly. Skipping soaking may increase cook times by 2-3 hours.
Is it better to cook navy beans on high or low?
The low setting is preferable as the gradual heat helps beans soften thoroughly without bursting. High heat can cause navy beans to break down too much.
How much liquid is needed to cook navy beans in a crock pot?
Make sure beans are covered by 1-2 inches of water or broth as they cook. Add more liquid if needed to keep beans submerged.
Can other ingredients be added to navy beans in a crock pot?
Yes, aromatics, veggies, meats, and seasonings can all be added to infuse navy beans with flavor as they soften.
How do I know when navy beans are done in the crock pot?
Navy beans are fully cooked and softened when they are completely creamy and tender all the way through. They should mash easily between two fingers when squeezed.
Tips for Using Softened Navy Beans
Once your navy beans are softened in the crock pot, you can use them in all kinds of delicious ways:
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Make navy bean soup by blending some of the cooked beans to thicken.
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Mash beans with olive oil, lemon, and herbs for a zesty bean dip.
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Toss beans in a salad with veggies and a vinaigrette dressing.
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Add to chili, stew, or curries to add protein and texture.
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Make baked beans or bean burgers using mashed navy beans.
With the right techniques, allowing navy beans to soften in a crock pot yields tender beans ready to become anything from hearty stews to spreads and salads. Give your navy beans time to soften low and slow for the perfect texture every time.
How to Cook Dried Beans in a Crockpot or Slow Cooker
This post compares how well soaked and unsoaked dried beans cook in a CrockPot or Slow Cooker and gives a lot of ideas for what to do with the cooked beans.
- 2 cups dried beans
- 4 cups water, or more
- salt for seasoning cooked beans, optional
HOW TO SOAK AND COOK DRIED BEANS IN THE SLOW COOKER:
- Look over the dry beans and throw away any that look broken or shriveled.
- Set the slow cooker to low and add 2 cups of dried beans. Cover them with enough cold water to cover them by a few inches. Let them soak overnight.
- The next day, take the beans out of the water and throw it away.
- Put the beans that have been soaked back into the slow cooker. Add enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches.
- Set the cooker to HIGH and cook the beans until they are soft and fully cooked. Soaked beans will take about 3–4 hours. (You can also cook the beans on low for about twice as long.) ) Drain beans. (You can save the cooking water if you want to, but I don’t because it has carbs that your body can’t digest, which is what gives beans gas. ) .
- About 6 cups of cooked beans can be made from 2 cups of dried beans that have been soaked.
- As long as the lid fits tightly on the container, you can freeze the beans for several months before you use them.
HOW TO COOK UNSOAKED BEANS IN THE SLOW COOKER:
- Look over the dry beans and throw away any that look broken or shriveled.
- Add enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches and put them in the slow cooker.
- Cook the beans on HIGH for about 5 to 6 hours, or until they are soft and cooked all the way through if you haven’t soaked them first. (You can also cook the beans on low, but it will take about twice as long.) ) .
- Drain beans. (You can save the cooking water if you want to, but I don’t because it has carbs that your body can’t digest, which is what gives beans gas. ) .
- Two cups of dried beans that haven’t been soaked will make six cups of cooked beans.
- As long as the lid fits tightly on the container, you can freeze the beans for several months before you use them.
Nutritional information is for one cup of cooked beans.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker:
- I started with 2 cups of dried pinto beans. For both crockpots, I used beans from the same package.
- The beans were soaked in the green crockpot all night (about 10 hours). ).
- Beans in the brown crockpot were not pre-soaked.
- There was enough water in both crockpots to cover the beans by about 2 inches. I didn’t add salt to the beans. (To cook the pre-soaked beans, drain off the water that was used to soak them and use fresh water. ).
- Both crockpots were set to HIGH, their lids were on, and a stopwatch was set to time each one.
- After 3–4 hours on high, the green crockpot’s pre-soaked beans were soft and fully cooked. What time it takes to cook will depend on how long the beans have been in the store or your pantry. Fresher beans will always cook more quickly. ).
- After 5 to 6 hours, the brown crockpot beans that hadn’t been soaked were soft and fully cooked. I was surprised that soaking the grains ahead of time didn’t change the cooking time more.