A few years ago I discovered the brining method — soaking beans in salt water as opposed to water — for cooking beans. I’ve never looked back. I wrote about it in this post for Marcella Hazan’s Stewy White Beans, and I’ve outlined the steps in more details below. That said, I do love my slow cooker and Instant Pot for cooking chickpeas, black beans, and other dried beans. Find instructions below for cooking beans in various methods:
Slow Cooker Method Instant Pot Method Stovetop Method
How to Cook Dried Beans in the Slow Cooker
With a slow cooker, there’s no need to soak the beans. Simply dump the ingredients in the pot, set it, and forget it. Here are two favorite recipes: Use the method with any bean you have on hand. You’ll want to eat the beans directly from the pot — they’re so good!
How to Cook Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
To cook beans in an Instant Pot add these ingredient into the inner pot:
1 lb. unsoaked, dried beans 6 cups water 1 half of a small onion, halved through the core to keep it intact, peeled 1 bay leaf 1 garlic clove, smashed and halved 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional 1/4 cup olive oil
How to Cook Dried Beans and Legumes on the Stovetop (Brining Method)
- Place dried chickpeas or beans in a large bowl and cover with water by at least 3 inches. Stir in 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Stir to dissolve. Let sit overnight or at least 8 to 10 hours.
- Drain and rinse. Place chickpeas/beans in a pot. Cover with water. Add 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt, a few sprigs thyme, a small onion, halved, and a bay leaf. (All of these aromatics are optional.)
- Simmer for 45 minutes to an hour or till done — this may take more or less time depending on the age of your beans. Add water as needed to ensure beans are always submerged in water.
- Store in cooking liquid in fridge for about a week or in the freezer for many months. As you may know, I love these deli quart containers and this mixed set of quart, pint, and cup containers. Same process for beans: 5 from 10 reviews See post above if you wish to cook your beans in an Instant Pot or slow cooker.
