Cooked Beans

Ingredients, directions and serving information for Cooked Beans.

• 1 cup dried beans
• 10 cups water

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Sort : Before soaking beans, pick them over and remove any damaged beans, small stones or dirt.
3. Soak : Most beans will rehydrate to triple their dry size, so be sure to start with a large enough pot. Choose one of the methods to soak your beans.
4. Cook : Drain soaking water and rinse beans. Cover beans with fresh water. Simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours until tender.
5. Hot Soak: Hot soaking helps reduce intestinal gas. For each pound (2 cups) of dry beans, add 10 cups hot water; heat to boiling and let boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside for up to 4 hours.
6. Quick Soak: For each pound (2 cups) of dry beans, add 10 cups hot water; heat to boiling and let boil 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, cover and set aside for at least one hour.
7. Overnight Soak: For each pound (2 cups) of dry beans, add 10 cups cold water and let soak overnight, or at least 8 hours.