Question about cooking dry beans

[Libby Pritchett]

I use black beans in my chicken tacos that I make in the crockpot. Usually I use a couple of cans of black beans, rinse them, and add them to the mixture when I turn the crockpot on. It cooks all day, and then I have yummy delicious chicken tacos for dinner.

Well, this time, Jeff went to the store for me, and he bought dry beans in a bag as opposed to the cans like I usually get. I'm soaking the beans now overnight, but my question is will I actually need to cook them in the morning before I put them in the crockpot?

The instructions say to cook them in so much water for 1 1/2 hrs, but these will be cooking all day in a crockpot without a lot of liquid (the only "liquid" I add is salsa, so it's a very thick mixture). I'm wondering if I can put them in as is or if I need to cook them and drain them before I add them to the mixture (or if that will make them tough or something?).

Blah. This is much easier with the cans. LOL

[rach3975]

I'm no expert, but I'm guessing that if you add some extra water to the recipe they'll cook in the crock pot. Either that or cook them first and then treat them just like the canned beans,

[BrattyMeg]

I'd cook them first

I use dry beans over can a lot..less sodium

[glumirk]

I would cook them first, too. DH hates how expensive canned beans are vs. dry, so I always put him in charge of them, which he happily does because he loves them. He has found that he likes the texture better if he doesn't cook them. I would just cook them now, and leave them covered in the pot overnight so you can measure what you need for tomorrow, and freeze the rest.

[Traci Reed]

I cook them half done first

[Libby Pritchett]

Thanks guys! Looks like I'll try cooking them first! :)

[joelsgirl]

I'd cook them too, but I use this recipe (http://onceamonthmom.com/homemade-blackefried-beansecipe/) by Pamela Donnis to cook mine in the crockpot (I don't mash them like she does), and they are always delicious.

[xboxmom]

I did a Christmas soup with dry kidney beans last year. I soaked them over night and then just added them to the crock pop not cooked and they turned out just fine. I think it all depends on how you like your beans. Sometimes if you cook them twice they are too mushy.

[ayaandjudah]

So, help a sister out. I've always used canned beans but prefer to not use cans at all anymore (How does one do tomato sauce without cans?????).

Anyway, you have to soak them overnight and then an hour and a half of cooking???? That just seems like so much time and work. Is cooking them just simmering them?

[glumirk]

So, help a sister out. I've always used canned beans but prefer to not use cans at all anymore (How does one do tomato sauce without cans?????).

Anyway, you have to soak them overnight and then an hour and a half of cooking???? That just seems like so much time and work. Is cooking them just simmering them?

Think of it as heat + humidifier in the winter, and cooking beans is nice. When we get so dry inside that everything is shocking I always have DH make some beans.

Tomato sauce you can always make your own. Probably just cook and purée tomatoes, right? I really want to learn to do my own canning in mason jars, so I can store my soups and beans and maybe eventually tomato sauces etc.

[NotAVampLvr]

definitely cook them first. :) Its worth it ... nothing worse than crunchy beans!

[scrap2day]

Definitely cook beans first before adding to a slow cooker.

Purdue Extension has a good online pamphlet (http://www3.ag.purdue.edu/counties/orange/Documents/SlowCookerGuideAndRecipes.pdf).

[Libby Pritchett]

I just realized I never updated this. I ended up cooking them first (soaked overnight, then simmered for about an hour and a half before adding to the crockpot and cooking all day). They turned out perfectly! Will definitely do it this way again.

[carrie1977]

Nice! I use canned black beans all the time. I'll have to try that and then have my hubby can them for me.