Comments on: How to Use Dry Beans in Recipes

By: Tiffastic

Tiffastic — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:13:12 +0000

Don’t use 8-10 cups of water to cook the beans; drowning the beans in water will reduce their flavor and increase cooking time. Instead use enough water so that it raises 1 inch above the beans. If you didn’t soak the beans, then have 3 inches of water over the beans.

By: deneicer1

deneicer1 — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 02:48:47 +0000

Always add tomatoes LAST after the beans are tender. Tomatoes make the skins tough and chewy. I don’t use tomatoes in chili, though. My Hubby doesn’t like it that way.

By: oopzydayzy

oopzydayzy — Fri, 27 May 2011 00:00:46 +0000

its the altitude. water boils at a lower temperature, so it takes longer to do. if you cook a lot of beans, or want to at high altitude, it is a good idea to invest in a pressure cooker (a pressure canner would be too big for your average pot of beans) the pressure inside the pot increases the temperature of the water.
i live above 8,000 ft, and i usually just boil them forever and eat them underdone. there are a lot of different tips on the internet, but i havent tried enough of them to give a good opinion

By: Bidwell

Bidwell — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 03:07:35 +0000

"I soaked them overnight, but then added them to a pot with diced tomatoes to make a chili"

BIG MISTAKE. Never add tomatoes or any other acidic food until the beans are tender. Try it again my way and see for yourself. I'm surprised this isn't all over the web. I too had hard beens.

By: walter

walter — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 22:56:32 +0000

what's the secret to getting baby lima beans to soften?

By: Rachel Ira

Rachel Ira — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:47:07 +0000

I have a hard time with my beans too. I use RO water, soak over night and cook till soft. It's after I refrigerate them that they get hard. Should I cook them longer? I do live at altitude. I mostly want them for my 10 month old who needs to eat some protein. I'm going to try the bacon and salt. I know the burrito places do vegetarian BB that are soft and flavorful.

By: HeatherSolos

HeatherSolos — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:13:18 +0000

I wish I could tell you they would be fine, but there really isn't a magic fix. I'm sorry.

By: Chili haunt

Chili haunt — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:55:13 +0000

This was my first time using dried beans. I soaked them overnight, but hen added them to a pot with diced tomatoes to make a chili. I moved them to a crock pot last night and they are stil hard this morning. I'm guessing they are old from what I read, but I don't want o dump out an entire pot of chili I made for a party tonight. Is there any way of softening them and saving the pot?

By: Melissa E

Melissa E — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:53:37 +0000

I am on hour sixteen, and they still aren't tender. I gave up the stove top and moved them into a crockpot hours ago.(electricity to run the crockpot is far less expensive than the cost of the gas for the stove)They soaked for 2 days, not kidding. what am i doing wrong? I used bottled water. I am high altitude.

By: Veronica

Veronica — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:31:08 +0000

I get to live in Alaska. When I cook a pot of beans it only takes me about an hour and a half. I always clean the beans first and then I try to add some kind of pork meat to it. We love left over ham bones and some of the fat from the ham. It gives it a great flavor. I definitely add at least one onion cut up and lots of garlic. My men love it. I have two boys and my husband. Beans are so good for you and they are very cheap. Thank you, Veronica