How to Make Crock Pot Beans

Cook beans in your slow cooker.

Making your own healthy, delicious beans at home is a breeze if you have a slow cooker. While you have to dedicate some time for the beans to cook -- eight hours of soaking and at least four hours of cooking -- making them requires little effort .

Things You'll Need

• 4 cups dry beans
• Crock Pot or slow cooker
• 8 cups water

Instructions

1. Rinse the 4 cups of the dry beans. Use a colander to sift through them and rinse them well.

2. Fill the slow cooker with 8 cups of hot water. Put your cleaned beans in the slow cooker with the water to soak. Leave for eight hours, or overnight. Do not turn the slow cooker on.

3. Dump the beans into a colander and drain them well after they're done soaking. Before adding them to the colander, remove any beans that may have floated to the top.

4. Add 8 cups of fresh water to the slow cooker. Add the beans and turn the slow cooker to High.

5. Cook the beans for a minimum of four hours; up to eight hours. While they are cooking, add desired seasonings. Salt is essential. Cumin, garlic, brown sugar or Worcestershire sauce all work well. Or you could add salsa.

Tips & Warnings

• For a twist on these homemade beans, add diced onions, potatoes and tomatoes while the beans for cooking for a tasty, healthy recipe.

• Check the beans every half-hour after the four-hour mark of cooking until they are cooked the way you want.

• Make sure your slow cooker is in a safe place so as to not be a fire hazard if you are going to leave it on while you are away from home.

References

• The Kitchn: Recipe Basics: How to Cook Beans in the Slow Cooker