PSA: dried beans took me 5 hours longer than the bag said

I soaked pinto beans overnight then simmered them for 2 hours like the package claims, but they were still crunchy at 7pm and only softened at midnight. Is there a faster cheap trick, or should I just stick to canned beans when I'm short on time?

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1 Comment

the_fiona22d ago

Wow, 5 hours over the claimed time? That is wild! I have been cooking dried beans for years and I have never heard of them taking that long, not even with old beans. Are you sure the bag wasn't lying about the soak time or something? Sometimes beans that have been sitting on the shelf too long just refuse to soften no matter what you do. In my experience, a pinch of baking soda in the soaking water helps break them down faster, and I always make sure the water is at a gentle simmer, not a hard boil. But honestly, if the bag says 2 hours and they took 7, I would not trust that brand again and I would just grab the canned ones next time you are in a hurry.