No more mistakes, here’s how to cook dry beans

To avoid unnecessary mistakes, here are all the tips and tricks on how to cook dried beans and make them tasty.

Legumes are one of the best foods we have, full of protein and beneficial aspects for the body. Of these, beans are among the most loved and versatile, great for a variety of recipes. From fresh to dried ones, their flavor is extremely genuine, but it should also be enhanced with impeccable and error-free preparation. In this regard, it is useful to know how to cook dried beans without making a mistake.

How to cook dried beans

Dried beans are also tasty in their natural state, so cooking them does not require any special expedients. The most important moment is before you start cooking them. These legumes, in fact, must be soaked for many hours – for convenience you can soak them all night and find them ready in the morning. The soaking must be without salt and with cold water. Similarly, cooking begins by immersing them in cold water. A few ingredients are enough to enhance its flavour, such as bay leaf and oil. The best advice during this step is to shake the pot from time to time , so as to prevent the legumes from sticking to the bottom. When the cooking time is reached, check the hardness of the beans by touching them with a wooden spoon; if they are soft enough, they are ready!

Speaking of cooking time, the discussion expands. Timing may vary based on various factors, such as the size of the legume or how old they are or the time you left them to soak. In general, the cooking time is closely linked to the type. The large Spanish beans are cooked in 45 – 60 minutes , while the black beans need 1 hour – almost – exactly; then, there are the Borlotti beans , cannellini beans and red beans which have a cooking time between 90 and 120 minutes .

Preparation of dried beans

Rich in proteins, these legumes are excellent for making soups or soups. 250 g of this product is enough for 4 people and cooking it is really simple. With just a few ingredients and following the advice listed above, it will be really easy.

Ingredients

• 250 g of dried beans
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 2 bay leaves

1. Before starting, wash the dried beans under running water.
2. Fill a large bowl with cold water and immerse them in it, without adding salt.
3. Leave them to soak for about 12 hours ; if you have the possibility, try to change the water every 4 hours, always using the cold one.
4. After soaking, drain and rinse them under running water.
5. Fill a saucepan with cold water and immerse the beans in the liquid.
6. Add the bay leaves, or any flavoring you prefer, and a tablespoon of oil. Cover with the lid and put on the fire, waiting for it to boil.
7. When the water boils, let it cook for the time foreseen according to the type of product, over low heat and in the semi-covered pot; shake the container from time to time to prevent the legumes from sticking to the bottom.
8. At the end of cooking, turn off and let them cool in the pot. Then, they will be ready to be used in your recipes.

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