Cooking dried blackbeans

[surrogate]

I normally buy the cans of blackbeans pre done, but since I am trying to get away from canned stuff I bought a bag of dried blackbeans yesterday. I need help learning how to cook them! I have never cooked dried beans before, ever!

Tips, tricks, and advice please! We eat blackbeans ALOT, usually once a day, so dried is cheaper (and healthier i think) but not if I cannot make them palatable lol

TIA!

[MamaChicken]

I buy them in bulk, also red, garbanzo, and pinto beans. I used to soak them overnight and them simmer for 2-3 hours. Now I just put them in a big pot, at least 2" water over the top level of beans, bring to a boil and then turn the temp down and gently simmer for several hours until tender. I make big batches and freeze 4 cup (two cans worth) portions for later.

As for being palatable, I add seasoning and salt after they are cooked. I usually freeze them plain so I can add seasoning according to whatever meal I am making. If you cook them too long, they will be very soft. I make refried beans or hummus or soup from these.

[Sayward]

I soak overnight and then replace the water before cooking - this removes the anti-nutrients that interfere with absorption, and also the gas-causing compounds. Then I put the beans in the crock pot or stock pot with enough water to cover, one or two onions cut into very big pieces, a handful of whole garlic cloves, a bell pepper or two cut into very large pieces, and a bay leaf. Cook on medium (slight simmer) for a few hours until beans are tender. Fish out all the veggies and the bay leaf - discard the bay leaf. Put the veggies along with some of the cooking liquid into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Return this back to the beans and stir it in. Now you have your beans in a super delicious liquid. Salt to taste (always salt beans AFTER they're cooked or they won't go tender), portion into individual servings, and freeze.

Luck!

[somegirl99]

^^ That's similar to how I do it. Yum!

[surrogate]

Thanks ladies, I just put them in a bowl to soak. I only bought a pound right now to see how well I can do. I would *like* to buy them in 25 lb bags along with some other stuff, there is no place local and the only places I have found online charged abt $1 a lb to ship...so (2) 25 lb bags of beans was gonna cost me $50 to ship....uh, no. Why does eating well have to be so dang hard! Ugh!

Thanks!

[sagewinna]

I am lazy, I stick them, unsoaked, in the crockpot (about 4 cups water to 1 cup beans) and set it to high in the morning. In the late afternoon I season and salt them. Works for any kind of beans I've tried so far.

[Weevil]

Originally Posted by Sayward

I soak overnight and then replace the water before cooking - this removes the anti-nutrients that interfere with absorption, and also the gas-causing compounds. Then I put the beans in the crock pot or stock pot with enough water to cover, one or two onions cut into very big pieces, a handful of whole garlic cloves, a bell pepper or two cut into very large pieces, and a bay leaf. Cook on medium (slight simmer) for a few hours until beans are tender. Fish out all the veggies and the bay leaf - discard the bay leaf. Put the veggies along with some of the cooking liquid into a food processor or blender and blend until smooth. Return this back to the beans and stir it in. Now you have your beans in a super delicious liquid. Salt to taste (always salt beans AFTER they're cooked or they won't go tender), portion into individual servings, and freeze.

Luck!

This is very similar to how I do it, except I will also add chopped celery and some cumin (and I use 3 or 4 bay leaves instead of just one!)

Making beans is really easy (it takes a long time with soaking, cooking, etc but the amount of actual time you spend working on them is minimal). I make them in big batches - about 2 pounds dry beans at a time, and freeze the leftovers. Both me and DH are vegan (and he trains for and runs marathons so he eats a LOT) and we eat lots and lots of beans, most of them home cooked.

[surrogate]

Yep the 1lb bag made over 5 cups of beans! I was surprised! We are eating some tonight. I am so proud of myself! And the money saved lol

Now if I could just find them in bulk lol

[Owen'nZoe]

Do you have any ethnic stores near you? I find the larger bags are easier to find at Mexican/Hispanic grocery stores in my area.

[77sugaree]

Don't forget to sort through them before you soak them in case there is a rock in the bag.