Beans in soup! Beans in Cakes and Beans in Books for Existential Crisis. Beans are the staple food of millions of people around the world. They are rich in Fibre and Vitamins, so why wouldn’t they be a staple food?
Furthermore, if you use the right combination of Beans, you could get a pack of tastes that you will never forget. The best thing about beans is how easily they can be consumed and preserved after preparation. You can even Reheat the Beans without losing any flavor or crunch.
Why Should You Soak Beans?
You can use beans in different soups and salads to get all of those vital nutrients your body needs. However, using Beans isn’t that easy since they generally have a hard coating. Cooking Beans can be a Chef’s worst nightmare because of the time it takes to cook them.
Soaking Beans makes them softer and more hydrolyzed. In short, it makes them easier to cook and digest.
How to Soak Beans
We already know that Soaking beans is important, but how do we soak them. The process isn’t that hard, especially if you are using Fresh Beans instead of dried ones. You just take some Beans, wash them thoroughly to get rid of any dirt, and then put them in the desired medium for soaking.
There are some different methods for soaking beans. Essentially, they reduce cooking time, but some compromise the flavor, while others require more time. The method you use should depend on the time you have and the beans you have chosen.
Some beans don’t need any soaking. These beans mainly belong to the general Legume family, but their outer coating is different from the rest of the beans. You should never soak the Split Peas or Lentils because soaking them could compromise their flavor.
Soaking Beans in Brine
Salt Water does whatever the normal soaking method does, but more quickly. The Salt in the Water breaks down the hard outer shell of the Beans, allowing the water to seep inside. The Brine can also be used directly to cook the beans, greatly reducing the cooking times.
Some people use a Baking Soda solution instead of Kosher Salt to soak their beans. Both of these are essentially the same, except that Baking Soda Doesn’t Go Bad and preserves the texture and flavor of the beans. Furthermore, the Baking Soda catalyzes the Soaking process and reduces the process by an hour.
How Long To Soak Beans
The soaking times of beans depend on how many crunches you want and the dish you want to prepare. Beans for Soups will need a fair amount of soaking. Beans for a Salad will probably need up to 6 or 8 hours of soaking, using just the Brine.
On average irrespective of the type of bean you choose, it will take you 6 to 12 hours to soak your beans. There are quick soak methods that generally assimilate both the cooking and the soaking process. One of these has been explained below.
Can You Soak Beans Overnight?
Yes, you can soak beans overnight. Most people prefer soaking beans overnight since normally, beans take about 6 to 12 hours to soak properly. However, you don’t have to soak them for that long since there are simpler methods.
The only thing you have to do is put the beans in a pot with Water and Add about two tablespoons of Kosher Salt. If you use this method, it will take you about 12 hours. Rinse your beans when you want to use them in the morning.
How to Soak Beans Fast
The ultimate secret-ninja technique to soaking Beans is the Quick Soak Method. You put the beans in a Stove and cover them with water. You then bring the water to a boil, which allows the beans to experience steaming as well.
Once the solution is brought to a boil, turn off the heat and let the Pot (Beans and Water Included) sit still for an hour. After an hour, you will have quick and perfectly soaked beans, albeit a bit hot. Don’t forget to wear those heat-resistant mittens.
The only thing that you have to worry about with this method is the water level. You will have to keep checking the water levels, ensuring that your beans always remain covered with water. With a bit of concentration, you can get some delicious beans ready at the expense of a few hours.
Another thing that you can do is essentially make the soaking process easier by getting already soaked and prepped beans. You can get some Canned Pinto Beans from your local supermarket or some delicious Kidney Beans (These aren’t really made from Kidneys!). You could also get some tasty Canned Baked Beans.
Sources
- Kitchen Accessory Buying Guides
- Kitchen Appliance Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookbook Buying Guides
- Kitchen Cookware Buying Guides
- Kitchen Pantry Food Buying Guides
- Does Food Go Bad Articles
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