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Preparing Dry Beans

Serves

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Varies

Cost/Serving

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Serving Size: 1/2 up

Ingredients

  • 1 package dried beans (such as pinto, navy, black, or kidney)

Instructions

  1. Stove Top Method: Spread dried beans on a baking sheet. Remove any small stones, dirt pieces, or withered beans. Rinse.
  2. Place rinsed beans in a large cooking pan. Cover with 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans. Use 10 cups for a 1 pound bag. Do either a short soak or a long soak. Short Soak – Bring beans to a boil, boil for 2-3 minutes, remove from heat, and let stand covered for 1-4 hours. Rinse beans. Long Soak – Cover beans with cold water and soak overnight in an uncovered pot. Rinse beans.
  3. Cover beans with fresh cold water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tender. Cooking time varies with bean varieties and soaking times. Long soaks can shorten cooking times. Read package directions. In general, cook 2 hours: black, great northern, kidney, navy, small white, and pinto beans; cook 3 hours: garbanzo (chickpeas) and red beans.
  4. Slow Cooker Method: Rinse beans. Remove any small stones, dirt pieces, or withered beans. Then, combine 1 pound dried beans (2 cups) with 8 cups water in slow cooker. Lastly, cook on low for 6 - 8 hours (or overnight) until beans are soft.

Tips

Cook a large pot of beans at one time and freeze in 1 1/2 cup portions (about 1 can or 15 ounces). Thaw using the defrost cycle of microwave, in the refrigerator overnight, or by setting them in a pan of water for 1 hour.

Add beans to a vegetable or pasta salad to make it a protein rich main dish.

Mash cooked beans, spread on a soft tortilla, heat, and eat! Include other ingredients such as cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa.

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Nutrition Facts

Number of servings varies
Serving Size: 1/2 cups
Amount Per Serving

Calories 120

 
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0.5g
1%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
 
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 200mg
9%
Total Carbohydrates 23g
8%
Dietary Fiber 8g
29%
Total Sugars 0g
 
Includes 0g Added Sugars
0%
Protein 8g
 
Vitamin D 0mcg
0%
Calcium 40mg
4%
Iron 2mg
10%
Potassium 375mg
8%

* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

NA* - We are currently in the process of integrating the new FDA Nutrition Standards. Added Sugar information is not currently available for the recipe. We will be updating the information shortly.