How to Cook Dried Black Beans
Birch recently received 16 tons of dried black beans! These are a versatile, protein-packed staple that can be used in so many meals. Here’s a simple, reliable way to cook them at home—enjoy!
What You’ll Need
1 lb dried black beans
8 cups water
Optional seasonings: cumin, bay leaves, red pepper flakes, black pepper, garlic salt, olive oil—whatever you enjoy!
How to Make Them
Start by rinsing your dried black beans in a colander. Add the rinsed beans to a large saucepan or Dutch oven.
Stir in your desired seasonings, then pour in the water.
Bring everything to a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer. Let cook for about 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
As the beans cook, they’ll become tender. If you’d like a thicker consistency, you can raise the heat slightly toward the end to reduce the liquid. If the beans aren’t tender yet, simply add more water and continue cooking as needed.
Remove from heat and enjoy!
Tips
Adding salt can help beans cook more evenly.
Using filtered or distilled water may improve cooking time.
Cooked beans freeze well—store them in freezer bags or mason jars for easy meal prep throughout the week.
