How to Cook Meals with Dry Beans Fast: A Beginner’s Guide

Why Cook with Dry Beans?

Dry beans are one of the most nutritious, versatile, and budget-friendly foods you can keep in your pantry. Compared to canned beans, dry beans are:

* Cheaper per serving
* Free from additives and excess sodium
* More flavourful when cooked properly

The main drawback? Cooking dry beans can take time. But with a few simple techniques, you can cut cooking time drastically and create satisfying meals in under an hour.

1. Prep Beans the Smart Way

Quick Soak Method

Soaking beans softens them and reduces cooking time. For a quick soak:

1. Rinse your beans under cold water.
2. Place in a pot and cover with 3x the amount of water.
3. Bring to a boil for 2–3 minutes.
4. Turn off the heat, cover, and let sit for 1 hour.
5. Drain and rinse before cooking.

Quick soak cuts cooking time by about half compared to traditional overnight soaking.

No Soak Method

If you’re in a rush, you can cook beans without soaking, especially in a pressure cooker. Cooking times will be slightly longer, but you’ll save planning time.

2. Use a Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot

This is the fastest way to cook dry beans:

| Bean Type | Pressure Cooker Time (Soaked) | Pressure Cooker Time (Unsoaked) |

| Black beans | 10–12 min | 25–30 min |
| Navy beans | 10–12 min | 25–30 min |
| Kidney beans | 12–15 min | 30–35 min |
| Cranberry Beans  | 12–15 min | 30–35 min |

Note: Kidney beans must always be boiled at high heat for at least 10 minutes to destroy toxins before using in a pressure cooker.

Using a pressure cooker or Instant Pot lets you cook beans perfectly in under an hour - a huge time saver for weeknight meals.

3. Cook Beans in Bulk and Freeze

Batch-cooking beans saves massive time later:

1. Cook a large batch using your preferred method.
2. Let beans cool completely.
3. Portion into freezer bags or containers.
4. Freeze for up to 6 months.

When you need beans, just thaw or drop frozen beans directly into soups, stews, or sautés.

4. Flavour Beans While Cooking

Enhance your beans with minimal effort:

* Add bay leaves, garlic, onions, or herbs to the cooking water.
* Avoid salt until the end. Salt can toughen beans if added too early.
* A splash of olive oil or tomato paste adds depth to stews and soups.

5. Fast Meal Ideas Using Cooked Beans

Here are some quick meal ideas that can be made in 20 minutes once your beans are cooked:

Bean Salads

* Black bean & corn salad with lime vinaigrette
* White bean salad with cucumber, tomato, and feta

Stir-Fries

* Kidney beans with sautéed vegetables, garlic, and soy sauce
* White beans with spinach, cherry tomatoes, and herbs

Soups & Stews

* Lentil soup with carrots, celery, and tomatoes
* Black bean chili with peppers and spices

Wraps & Tacos

* Refried beans for tacos or burritos
* Chickpeas mashed with spices for wraps

Quick Snacks

* Bean hummus or spreads

6. Tips to Cook Beans Faster

* Use smaller beans  - lentils and black beans cook faster than kidney.
* High heat -  simmering at a higher heat reduces cooking time but avoid vigorous boiling that breaks beans.
* Baking soda trick - a pinch of baking soda in the cooking water can soften beans faster. Don’t overdo it, or the beans will taste soapy.
* Keep lids on - traps steam and speeds cooking.

Conclusion

Cooking with dry beans doesn’t have to be slow or complicated. With soaking, pressure cooking, bulk preparation, and simple seasoning tricks, you can create nutritious, high-protein meals in under an hour.

Beans are versatile, satisfying, and perfect for quick lunches, hearty dinners, and even snacks. With a little prep, you’ll always have a healthy base ready for almost any meal.


* Looking for a more traditional way to cook beans?  
* Shop all our Bean Varieties
* Or try our 5-bean mix