See all 2 photos
CULINARY BASICS USING BEANS
Knowing Beans About Beans
There are many different kinds of beans available to us – dried beans or already cooked/canned. However, to understand more about the culinary basics using beans, here is a chart that shows the exact breakdown of each type of bean (including calories).
It is a great way to figure out the calories in any particular kind of bean as some are higher in calories.
It is also an easy way to figure out how many carbs for instance are in a particular bean – again, some are higher in carbs and some are extremely low in carbs.
No matter what the diet you are striving for, there are many beans to choose from and if one particular bean doesn’t fit into your diet criteria, you can always try another.
See all 2 photos
Culinary Basics – Storing Beans
Of course, if you have canned beans, there is no method simpler! Simply store in your cupboard or pantry and use as you need them.
You can buy dried beans and legumes in almost any supermarket – whether prepackaged or in bins.
I’ve read that beans keep forever but I’ve also heard that it is best to use them within a year because they just become drier and drier.
Store in jars or air-tight containers in a cupboard or pantry and use them as you need them.
A great use for beans over a year old? Use as pie weights in a single crust baked pie shell. They work just as well as gourmet store pie weights. Simply line your pie shell before baking with a piece of foil. Then fill with beans to weigh down the shell and keep it from bubbling or puckering. Remove the beans and throw away when finished.
STOVE TOP METHOD FOR PREPARING DRIED BEANS
This method will destroy any potential toxins created by undercooked beans.
Sort, rinse and cover the dried beans with plenty of water – soak for at least 12 hours.
Drain and rinse the beans. Cover with fresh water.
Boil vigorously for at least 10 minutes.
You will need to simmer them for another 45-60 minutes to get them to tender – or add to a recipe where they will be cooked for approximately that amount of time, such as a chili or a minestrone soup.
For soy beans, follow the above instructions but they generally need to be boiled at a vigorous boil for 1 hour and then cooked 2-3 hours further to get them to tender.
Presto 01362 6-Quart Stainless Steel Pressure CookerAmazon Price: Too low to display
List Price: $59.99
Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker
Amazon Price: $70.00
List Price: $109.99
Instant Pot IP-LUX60 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6.33-Quart
Amazon Price: $119.99
List Price: $219.00
DID YOU KNOW?
If you’ve cooked too many beans to eat within a few days, you can cool them quickly and freeze them. They freeze very well whether in soups or ‘as is’.
Another great way to use cooked beans (especially black or pinto) is for breakfast! They make a great adjunct to eggs – or even better use in huevos rancheros or a breakfast burrito.
You should avoid drinking coffee or tea for a half hour after consuming beans because they contain a lot of iron. These drinks slow down the ability for your body to absorb the iron!
Garbanzo Beans | 100% USA Grown | Identity Preserved (We Tell You Which Farm We Grew It In) | 5 Lbs | GMO Free
Amazon Price: $10.40
Bean By Bean: A Cookbook: More than 175 Recipes for Fresh Beans, Dried Beans, Cool Beans, Hot Beans, Savory Beans, Even Sweet Beans!
Amazon Price: $7.98
List Price: $15.95
Santa Fe Bean Company Variety Pack (Pack of 8)
Amazon Price: $16.09
List Price: $21.36
Heinz Beans in Tomato Sauce, 13.7-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12)
Amazon Price: $16.99
List Price: $21.19
Summing Up the Culinary Basics of Beans
There are several different ways to cook dried beans but the most important thing to remember is to cook them thoroughly, especially kidney beans.
You can also cook beans in a pressure cooker for quick cooking but be sure to follow manufacturer’s instructions as a pressure cooker can be a very dangerous appliance to use. It is really important when using a pressure cooker to never overfill as there is a danger of explosion.
You can prepare beans as the method below shows – the traditional stove top method.
You can even cook beans in the oven.
No matter how you cook dried beans or if you use canned beans in recipes, this is one healthy ingredient and part of the culinary basic ingredients to have on hand.
Know Your Dried Beans!
Im not sure if this is a widespread saying or not, but here in the South we often say that someone doesnt know beans when hes speaking on a topic about which he has little knowledge. By…
Culinary Arts: Black Beans and Corn
Learn to make this delicious dish in my online cooking school! Welcome once again to my online cooking school! If you’ve visited before, you know that my online cooking classes include lots of recipes and…
Southern Culinary Arts: Dried Beans and Ham
Welcome to my online cooking school. Today we’ll be preparing a favorite of Southern culinary arts, dried beans and ham. But first, a little story. My dad owned a grocery store and a gun shop, and…
Culinary Basics: Ingredients – Using Beans
Knowing Beans About Beans There are many different kinds of beans available to us dried beans or already cooked/canned. However, to understand more about the culinary basics using beans, here is…
Culinary Basics: Healthy Cooking With Beans
Beans are one of the healthy culinary basics found in a kitchen aimed at preparing healthy recipes while sharpening your culinary talents. Using beans to create healthy recipes is one way to effectively…
Culinary Basics: How to Grow Bean Sprouts
Beans are not only part of healthy culinary basics, they are also versatile. From the humble little shriveled and dried up pellet, you can make delicious and nutritious sprouts and add even more nutrients to…
Culinary Basics Using Beans – Tortilla Bake
Culinary basics using beans would not be complete without a recipe! This recipe is from an old cookbook of mine from Williams and Sonoma I purchased it years ago for bean and rice recipes and it is…
How to cook beans. Cook dried beans for delicious be…
Easy to prepare dried beans will give you a lot of great recipe options. I was just about to write a great recipe for refried beans, when I realized that some people may not be aware of the best way to…
The Perfect Pot of Pinto Beans
Having lived in Texas for more than ten years, I began to feel a little ashamed that I didn’t know how to make a simple staple of tex-mex cuisine – beans. After all, they seem simple enough. An excellent…
How to Cook Dried Beans and Legumes
Rinse beans well and place in enough water to cover generously. Remember that beans will double in bulk after several hours of soaking. Look for shriveled or damaged beans; remove any that float. Soak…
Southern Culinary Arts: Dried Beans and Ham
Welcome to my online cooking school. Today we’ll be preparing a favorite of Southern culinary arts, dried beans and ham. But first, a little story. My dad owned a grocery store and a gun shop, and…