I will admit dried beans were not my cup of tea. I’d grab the canned beans over the dried beans. However, this is mostly because I didn’t know how to cook dried beans. Sure, I knew soaking was the way to get them to plump up. But how much water? Soak for how long? Then what!?

After you buy a bag of dried beans, sift through them and get any rocks or ugly looking beans out of the mix. Then rinse them with water.

For my beans, I put them in a stock pot. Fill the pot with water…going over at least 2 inches over the beans. The beans are going to suck in the water and expand. Pretty cool!

How long should the beans be soaked? Technically the beans can be soaked for 8 hours. However, I soak my beans for 24 hours. The longer you soak the beans then the more phytic acid will be reduced. Phytic what!? Phytic acid is found in grains, beans, nuts, and seeds. Short version: Phytic acid prohibits us from getting all the nutrients from the beans, etc.. Weston A Price website goes more in depth on phytic acid.

I always like to rinse my beans while soaking. I rinse at least once if soaking for 8 hours. If you are trying to reduce phytic acid then rinse them several times during the 24 hour period.

In fresh water, bring the beans to a boil and then cover and simmer. Cook for an hour. Ta da! You have baked beans.

  • Sift Through Beans: Get any rocks or ugly beans out
  • Rinse Beans
  • Cover beans with at Least 2 inches Over With Water
  • Soak Beans for 8 to 24 Hours (Rinse)
  • Bring Beans to a Boil and then Cover and Simmer for an Hour
Soak Beans
Cooked Beans!

Now go! Prepare and cook your dried beans! I know you can do it!

White Chili

Red Chili