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Black Beans in a Bowl With Cilantro

How to Cook Black Beans (3 Methods)

Justine Drosdovech
If you’re wondering how to cook black beans like a pro, this comprehensive guide is exactly what you need! Step-by-step instructions for three cooking methods.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Release time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course How-to, Side Dish
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Latin American, Vegan
Servings 12 servings
Calories 114 kcal

Equipment

  • Stovetop pressure cooker
  • Electric pressure cooker
  • Large pot

Ingredients
 

US Customary - Metric
  • 2 cups dried black beans
  • Water for cooking

Instructions
 

Rinse

  • Begin by rinsing the beans in a colander to remove any residual dirt. Carefully check the beans over to ensure there are pebbles or anything else that could potentially damage your teeth post-cooking.

Soak

  • Overnight soak: Place the beans in a container and add water until the level is 2-3 inches above the beans. Leave them to soak for 12 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the beans prior to cooking.
  • Quick soak: Place the beans in a pot with water and boil them for 2-3 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let the beans rest in the water for 2 hours to soften.

Stovetop

  • Add the beans to a pot and cover it with 3-4 inches of water. Cover the pot with a lid and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, stir and reduce the heat to a simmer.
  • Periodically stir the beans to prevent them from sticking to each other and the pot. Depending on the age of your beans, the cooking time can take between 1 ½ to 2 hours.
  • While the beans are cooking, make sure to taste them. If they are soft and creamy, they are done. If they start to appear dry, add more hot water to maintain a consistent temperature.

Stovetop pressure cooker

  • Before starting, inspect the rubber seal on the inner portion of the pressure cooker lid for any damage.
  • Add the beans to the pot and cover them with about 2-3 inches of water, making sure you don’t go past halfway up the pot for safety reasons.
  • Secure the lid, ensuring it’s locked and the valve is down. Heat the pot on the stovetop over high until you start to hear a "hissing" noise from the pressure release valve.
  • Reduce the heat to low and set a timer for 40 minutes. Once the time is up, turn the stove off and allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally.

Electric pressure cooker

  • Add the beans to your Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker. Cover the beans with 2-3 inches of water, ensuring you don’t go past the "max fill line."
  • Secure the lid and close the pressure valve. Set your pressure cooker for 30 minutes on high power. Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure cooker to release pressure naturally. Happy eating!

Video

Notes

  • Rinse the beans: Start by thoroughly rinsing the black beans in a colander. This step helps remove any dirt or foreign materials.
  • Inspect for foreign materials: Post-rinsing, inspect the beans carefully to ensure there are no pebbles or other foreign substances. This could potentially damage your teeth when eating.
  • Soak before cooking: Soak your beans before cooking them in a regular pot. This reduces the cooking time significantly. There are three soaking methods you can choose from - overnight soak, quick soak, and no soak.
  • Stir occasionally: During the cooking process, make sure to stir the beans occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the pot. Obviously, this is only necessary on the stovetop.
  • Nutritional information is a rough estimate and should not be taken as health advice.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 20.4g | Protein: 7.6g | Fat: 0.5g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 0.9mg | Potassium: 305.3mg | Fiber: 7.5g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 5.2IU | Calcium: 23.2mg | Iron: 1.8mg
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