dried beans

MelissaMiso

I have a fear of them! I love beans of all sorts and usually use canned. I want to start cooking with dried beans but don't know the best way to soak them. Help! Thanks

sully07

you could just soak them over night, rinse them well, and then cook them the next day--in a crock pot, regular stovetop method, in the pressure cooker, or in the oven in a dutch oven @ about 300-325. 

 I tend to do the 'quick soak method', when you rinse the beans, boil them for one minute, and then let them sit for an hour. this is a bit better for digestive purposes. I nearly always coo them in my pressure cooker, since it's faster. sometimes I put them in the crockpot overnight on low for eight hours. sometimes I cook them in the oven, but that takes as long as the stovetop method. . .

 and I always cook them the night before, so I don't have to fuss after work, and freeze half for later. 

MelissaMiso

Thanks, I'm going to try and make the switch. Cooking and freezing some sounds like a great idea, too.