How to Cook Dried Beans in a Slow Cooker

Dried beans are simple and easy to prepare.

Beans are a natural and nutritious food that have been part of the human diet for thousands of years. As both an economical staple for those on a tight budget and an ingredient in gourmet meals, beans offer variety. Whether you choose kidney, great northern, navy or another variety of beans, using dried beans is a healthy alternative to canned, which contain excess sodium and preservatives. If you've never cooked dried beans before, you'll be surprised at just how easy it is.

Things You'll Need

• Colander
• Water

Instructions

1. 

   Rinse beans well before cooking.

   Open your bag of beans and pour them into a colander. Rinse them well with cold, running water.

2. Pick out any shriveled or deformed beans and throw them away.

3. Cover beans with water and allow them to soak for an hour or two or overnight. This step is optional. Some people find that soaking beans can make them more easily digestible. Soaking overnight speeds cooking time as well.

4. Drain soaked beans and put them in the slow cooker. Cover the beans with water so that the water is an inch or two higher than the beans. Place the lid on the slow cooker.

5. Turn your slow cooker on low and set the timer for 8 hours.

6. Check your beans after 6 hours and stir them gently. Continue cooking beans until they are done to the level you desire. Drain and season.

Tips & Warnings

• When you want to presoak your beans but don't have a lot of time, put your beans in a pot of cold water and bring them to a boil. Immediately remove them from the heat and cover them. Let them sit for one to two hours before cooking.

References

• Recipes4us.co.uk: Dried Beans and Peas
• The Kitchn: Recipe Basics: How to Cook Beans in the Slow Cooker

Resources

• What's Cooking America: How to Cook Dried Beans - How to Soak Dried Beans