Fast Ways to Soak Navy Beans

Dried beans come in many different varieties.

Dried beans are an inexpensive alternative to canned, but cooks must prepare them in advance. One disadvantage of dried beans is the time it usually takes to soak them before cooking.

Heated Soak Method

This method will prepare dried navy beans for use in slightly more than two hours. Measure out the amount of beans you need and rinse them thoroughly under running water. Place them in a large pot and cover with enough water to submerge them at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a full roiling boil. Start timing now, boiling the beans for three minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid. Allow the beans to soak in the hot water for two hours. Strain the beans from the water and rinse them off. The beans will now be ready for you to use in other recipes.

Pressure Soak Method

This method is faster than the heated soak method. Measure out the amount of beans you need and rinse them under running water. Place the beans in a pressure cooker. Cover them with at least 3 inches of water. Attach the lid of the pressure cooker and lock it in place. Turn on the cooker and wait until the pressure cooker is at full pressure before you begin timing. Pressure cook the beans for five minutes. Then, turn off the heat and allow the pressure to subside naturally before you remove the beans to drain and rinse them. This method takes 30 minutes at most and produces soft beans.

Oven Soak Method

This is a variation on the heated soak method. Cooks who use this report that it produces a bean that's softer and more ready to use than ones that are soaked using the heated soak method. It takes an average of 90 minutes. Put 1 lb. of beans in a large oven-safe pot with a tight lid. Add 2 tsp. salt and enough water to submerge the beans by at least 1 inch. Cover and place in an oven heated to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook for 75 minutes. Check the beans for softness and put them back in the oven for 15 more minutes if they aren't soft enough yet. Add a bit of hot water if they seem dry. Cook the beans for up to two hours if needed.

The Good Old Days

All of these methods are faster ways to soak navy beans than the traditional method, which involved an overnight soaking at the very least. Using a heated soak, pressure soak or oven soak instead, beans can be ready to use in recipes the same day. Cooks don't have to plan ahead as much and dried beans become more of a convenience food item. Since they are a low-cost alternative to canned beans, it pays to know how to use dried beans effectively.

References

• The Kitchn: How to Cook Beans

Resources

• "Food and Wine": Hints for Steaming: Pressure Cookers