Fall is here, time for some beans!

[VaTom]

As far back as I have been been cooking pinto beans I have experimented with different meats, seasonings, spices, and veggies. Every version I ever came up with was good. But if we're talking about DRIED pinto beans there was always, ALWAYS, one constant...you must soak them in water overnight or they will never tender up. the two times I didn't bother to do that I reminded myself why.

This was one of my mother's quotes: "You can cook a pinto bean till the cows come but if you don't soak it first it will never get tender.

BUT...

You can file this under the heading of live and learn. My BIL and SIL returned from a trip to Colorado and brought me a 5 lb bag of dried pinto beans from a company called:

HEIL BEAN, INC.
110 North Main
Rocky Ford, CO
81067

I was reluctant to believe it but they told me that THESE BEANS NEED NO SOAKING. But they spoke the truth. I didn't time it but it was about an hour and half or so and they were perfect...No soaking, no fooling.
If it's possible they are even better tasting.

Good advice. If you have one of those new "Insta-Pot" pressure cookers you don't have to soak dried beans. About 45 minutes-an hour in the insta pot and they are done. I use chicken broth as the liquid plus add onions, celery and country ham or fat back for the seasoning. Corn bread cooked in a cast iron skillet in the oven and you have a meal.

 

[zeke]

Link please? ✌

just google instant pot. It's a brand name for multi cooker that can pressure cook. Am mainly using it for beans and hard boiled eggs.

14 minutes for hard dried pinto beans, after it warms up. 4 minutes of pressure cooking, 10 keep warm setting.

turning them into refried is another 10 minutes pressure cooking, 10 minutes slow pressure release.

 

[coltle6920]

Definition of "instant"

"Subject to interpretation but can be up to 14 minutes."

 

[Chubbo]

Soaking beans

I hate to dispute the common bean soaking fallacy, but I will; Mom’s opinion on the matter was; The only thing that’s accomplished, by bean soaking is, that a lot of valuable vitamins, and nutrients are lost when the broth of a bean soak is discarded. The consistency of the beans is changed only in the bean soakers imagination. Before a nasty controversy issues, this theory is easily tested, and proved.

I've never soaked, and discarded the broth of beans, or ever will.

Chubbo

 

[Krogen]

Senate Bean Soup: U.S. Senate: About Traditions & Symbols | Senate Bean Soup

Two versions, w/ and w/o mashed potatoes. Looks rather "official."

 

[walkin jack]

As stated above I been soakin' 'em for decades...but I NEVER discarded the bean soak.

I have an instapot but haven't used it for a few years. When I have used up all the HEIL beans I will be pressing that back into service. That is an idea whose time has come!

 

[John_M52]

As my dad used to say "Beans, beans the musical fruit...."

 

[Rustyt1953]

As stated above I been soakin' 'em for decades...but I NEVER discarded the bean soak.

I just talked to mum about this. She puts pintos in water with a tbs of baking soda for 20 minutes. She will then swish them around and pour them into a colander and rinse them. Back they go into the pot to soak covered overnight.

The next day she will add ham hocks to the existing water and slow cook.

The first time she hit these shores dad told her that a biscuit ain't a cookie and cornbread ain't cake.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Senate Bean Soup: U.S. Senate: About Traditions & Symbols | Senate Bean Soup

Two versions, w/ and w/o mashed potatoes. Looks rather "official."

"Clean the beans, then cook them dry."
What the hell does THAT mean?????

 

[OLDSTER]

Love my "nasty" beans.

 

[OLDSTER]

Love my "nasty" beans.