How to cook beans correctly, the benefits of beans and the best recipes
Raw beans contain toxic substances that are destroyed only during heat treatment. The easiest way to prepare beans is boiling. The prepared product can be used for preparing cold or hot dishes and snacks, side dishes or home canning.
Thanks to its mineral components, beans are considered a healthy dietary product. It contains large amounts of potassium, phosphorus, copper and zinc. Beans are a source of protein necessary for children's and medical diets.
Depending on the type and variety of beans, the cooking time and method may vary.
There are culinary rules that you can use to quickly cook beans at home, preserving all their beneficial properties and taste.
Rules and tips:
- Beans must be carefully sorted before cooking, removing all empty, dried out or changed color and shape beans. The taste of the finished dish depends on their quality, so do not skip this important stage of preparation.
- The beans should be soaked. The white variety is considered more delicate, so soaking time can be reduced to 4-5 hours. During this time, all bitterness and harmful organic substances will disappear from the beans.
- The water should be discarded after soaking the beans. The liquid absorbs all harmful substances and bitterness contained in raw beans. It can cause gastrointestinal irritation, so fresh water should be used for cooking.
- Cooking should be done over low heat. Due to extreme heat, beans lose most of their beneficial and nutritional properties.
- You should first place the frying pan on the stove that is turned on. Place the beans for frying on a well-heated surface.
- Cook until the beans are completely softened. Hard fruits are difficult to digest and can cause problems with the digestive system.
- Cooking is the main stage of preparation before further cooking. If you plan to fry or bake beans, the grains should first be boiled until tender.
Cooking recipes for all types of beans:
- Red. Pour fresh water over the prepared beans, place on low heat and bring to a boil. After 5 minutes of boiling, the water should be drained and replaced with cold water. Repeat the procedure for replacing the decoction 2 more times. For the last time, the liquid is brought to a boil, the heat is reduced to low, and the beans are simmered until tender (soft) for 2 hours.
- White. Pour cold water over the beans, bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes. Remove the pan with beans from the heat, close the lid and leave to steep for 60 minutes. Drain the cooled broth, pour in the beans again and cook until tender.
- Capsicum. Pour cold water into a saucepan, bring to a boil and add salt to taste. Place the washed pods in boiling water and cook for 5-10 minutes (depending on size). Place the finished beans in a colander and cool.
Why do beans take so long to cook?
Boiled beans are great as a side dish for meat and fish. It can be served as a separate dish, or in combination with other boiled or raw vegetables, as well as added to vegetable soup or made into a puree soup. In any case, beans have a good taste and satisfy hunger perfectly.
However, raw or undercooked beans should not be eaten. The fact is that beans contain toxic glycosides that can cause severe poisoning. This is not such a rare case, many vegetables and fruits contain some amount of toxic substances - potatoes, radishes, radishes, mustard, almonds, peaches, pears, plums and even apples and cherries. But the glycosides contained in beans can only be removed in one way - by dissolving them in boiling water. Therefore, you should not eat raw pods or the beans themselves - to eat, the beans must be cooked until fully cooked.
Before the beans are cooked, they are soaked in water for a long time. Pre-soaking beans in water not only speeds up their cooking. Carbohydrates in beans are contained in the form of oligosaccharides, which are very poorly absorbed by our body. It is oligosaccharides that cause gas formation and flatulence, which is why many people refuse to eat beans altogether. But during soaking, they dissolve and no longer cause harm to the digestion process.
On a note! One-fifth of beans consists of protein; only meat contains more protein. In addition, beans are an excellent source of copper, zinc, potassium and phosphorus, as well as many vitamins - A, B, C, K, PP and E. But the most important difference between beans and other vegetables is that all the beneficial substances contained in them are completely preserved during heat treatment. There is simply no other such wonderful vegetable.
How to prepare beans?
Preliminary preparation - cleaning. The beans must be poured onto a towel and sorted. All low-quality beans are removed: yellowed, changed shape, color, damaged, etc.
The main stage of preparation for cooking is soaking. Water is used for this. Since the liquid will absorb all harmful substances and bitterness, it is recommended to change it several times (every 2-3 hours).
Is soaking necessary and why?
Beans soaked in water will cook faster than those cooked without soaking, and will retain their shape without turning into an unsightly “porridge” during cooking. And most importantly, antinutrients are destroyed in soaked beans - substances that protect the fruit from external influences, but can cause digestive problems in people .
Only beans are subjected to this treatment; green beans do not need to be soaked before cooking!
Soaking simulates the beginning of bean growth, which requires a moist and fairly warm environment to germinate. Enzymes are activated in the beans, the availability of vitamins and minerals increases - the beans seem to “wake up”. This is very beneficial for PP specialists, because after soaking this product becomes about 80% healthier.
But the main thing here is not to overdo it. It is enough to soak the beans for 6-8 hours, periodically changing the water. But there is no need to leave it in water for a long time, since after soaking it overnight in the beans, the processes of destruction of useful substances begin. In addition, the beans may simply turn sour!
Soaking beans is very easy - fill them with cool water so that the liquid level is 2 fingers higher than the beans, which quickly swell in water. After 3 hours, the water needs to be changed (again 2 fingers higher). It is strictly not recommended to use such water for cooking!
How to soak beans?
The procedure for soaking beans before cooking is carried out several hours before preparing the main dish. The sorted beans must be poured into a container, the volume of which should be 3-4 times larger than the beans. Pour water into the beans in a ratio of 1:2 and leave for 6-12 hours. Depending on the size and type of beans, soaking time may vary.
Slow or cold way
This option takes a lot of time, but is the most optimal for preserving all the beneficial properties of beans. The grains are poured with cold (boiled) water and left for 10-12 hours in a cool, dark place. Large fruits can be left to soak overnight.
Water should be used previously boiled and cooled. Raw water will make the beans tough and lose their flavor.
Fast or hot method
If you don’t have time for long soaking, you can use a faster method. To do this, pour the beans with cold water, bring to a boil and leave in the broth for 1 hour. The procedure should be repeated 2-3 times, the last time you don’t have to drain the water, but cook the beans until fully cooked.
Each time you prepare a decoction, you should take fresh water.
Tips for Cooking Beans
- Salt slows down the cooking process, so it needs to be added before the end of the procedure.
- Soaking the grains should last no more than 11-12 hours, otherwise fermentation begins in the grains. In the warm season, you need to soak them in the refrigerator to prevent germination.
- If it is not possible to change the water, you need to keep the grains in a solution of 0.6 liters of water and ¼ tsp. baking soda. After 6-8 hours, the liquid should be drained, and the beans should be kept in a similar solution for 5 minutes, but with ½ tsp. soda After this, the grains are washed and sent for cooking.
How to cook beans?
There are several ways to cook beans at home. It will be tasty, soft and healthy if you follow simple rules. To prepare a side dish or snack, it is recommended to cook beans with the addition of vegetable oil. When the water boils, pour 1 tsp into it. olive or corn oil. This will make the grains tender and crumbly, while protecting them from cracking.
The second method of cooking beans so that they are soft and tasty is called combined. While cooking the grains, add cold water 4-5 times. You need to pour in the cold liquid at the moment when the broth boils strongly. Add water 1 glass at a time, do not stir the beans.
The general rule to follow concerns salt and spices. The grains should be salted 1-2 minutes before the end of cooking. Spices and herbs are not added to the broth, but along with the dressing before serving the dish.
Features of choosing white beans
White beans are good because they are a low-calorie product. So people who want to get rid of extra pounds need to include such a product in their diet as often as possible.
People with liver and gastrointestinal diseases, or problems with the pancreas and gall bladder, should avoid eating white beans.
Animal protein is much more difficult to digest than plant protein. Therefore, it is preferable for older pensioners to eat beans instead of meat. White beans improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system, which will have a beneficial effect at any age.
Substituting Ingredients
For those engaged in heavy physical labor or sports activities, it will be more difficult to get enough of white beans. Therefore, active people are recommended to consume red beans. It is higher in calories and has more nutrients. But compared to white, it is absorbed much more slowly.
Cooking time
The cooking time depends on the type and size of the grains. To find out exactly how long beans are cooked, with or without soaking, you should follow a simple rule:
- Light varieties will be ready after 60 minutes of vigorous boiling.
- Dark varieties take longer to cook, so it is better to use the method of adding cold water for them. The total time is 1-2 hours.
- Beans in pods cook much faster. The procedure takes 5-6 minutes for a fresh product and 8-10 minutes for a frozen one.
You can determine the exact time for how long to cook the beans in a simple way. Pour water over a few grains and leave in a cool place. Remember the time during which the beans absorb all the liquid - the same amount will be needed to cook these grains.
Beans in the microwave
Cooking beans in the microwave is quite risky - they can boil into porridge or require additional cooking time, which calls into question the feasibility of the method.
1. Place the beans in a deep microwave-safe dish and add cold water in the proportion: 1 cup of beans to 2 cups of water. Leave to swell for about 8 hours. 2. Carefully drain the water from the bowl. To prevent the beans from accidentally falling out of the bowl, you can cover the bowl with a flat plate, leaving a small gap. Excess liquid will drain through it. 3. Pour clean water over the beans and place in the microwave. Cook red beans at maximum power for 10 minutes, white beans for 7 minutes. 4. Stir the beans, add salt and sprinkle with oil. 5. Return the beans to the microwave and cook at 700 W - 20 minutes for red beans and 15 minutes for white beans. 7. Remove the beans from the microwave and place in a colander to drain any remaining liquid.
How to determine the readiness of a product?
Ready boiled beans should be strong, whole, but soft inside the grain. You can determine readiness during cooking in 2 ways: by taste or using a knife or other sharp object. Soft beans should have a thin skin and be easily pierced, but not cracked. The popped grains can be used for puree soup or side dish.
Secrets of experienced housewives
Here are tips from experienced chefs:
- Red beans are cooked very rarely.
- It is worth cooking legumes without soaking only if they are young.
- Use small varieties for soups and large varieties for side dishes and salads.
- If you cook without soaking, only the shell will be soft. The inside of the product will be hard.
- Do not stir the beans frequently during cooking as this will cause them to become overcooked.
- Cook over low heat.
- Many housewives drain and add water several times during the cooking process. This reduces cooking time and removes bitterness from the product.
- Vegetable oil can make the taste milder.
- It will be possible to preserve the rich color only when cooking with the lid open.
- Do not mix several types of beans during cooking, this will spoil the taste.
Beans are a tasty and valuable product that is used in many recipes. It is added to soups, main courses, salads and snacks. Beans are rich in protein and healthy vitamins. It is important to learn how to cook it correctly so that it tastes good. Knowing the secrets of cooking beans, you can please your loved ones with healthy and satisfying dishes.
How long does it take to cook frozen green beans?
Cooking beans depends not only on the type and variety, but also on the method used. Frozen semi-finished products are prepared much faster, since they have already undergone primary heat treatment. On average, the pods cook for 8-10 minutes.
It must be remembered that it is not recommended to defrost semi-finished products after blast freezing. This way, the products will lose not only some of their beneficial properties, but also their visual appeal. To prepare a salad or side dish, the frozen pods should be thrown directly into boiling salted water.
Boiled bean salad
Ingredients
Red beans - 150 grams Red onion - 1 head Pickled champignons - 100 grams Parsley - 10 grams Mayonnaise - 2 tablespoons Olive oil - 2 tablespoons Salt and pepper - to taste
Preparation
Cook the beans and place in a colander to cool. Peel, wash and thinly slice the onion into half rings. Fry the onion in olive oil until golden brown. Place beans and onions in a salad bowl, add chopped pickled champignons, salt, pepper and mayonnaise. Chop the parsley and add to the salad. Mix well.
How to cook the pods?
When using green beans, you should pay attention not only to their appearance, but also to their size. Cooking time, as well as the taste of the product, depend on its age. Young bean pods cook quickly. If you fill them with hot water, they will be ready to eat in just 7 minutes.
Pods with thicker, tougher skins will take 10-12 minutes to cook. It is recommended to cut adult fibrous fruits into 2-3 parts. After freezing, the pods cook 2 times faster, 4-6 minutes.
Red bean side dish
Products
Red beans - 600 grams Onions - 2 pieces Carrots - 2 pieces Sweet pepper - 2 pieces Urop and parsley - 1/2 bunch each Garlic - 2 cloves Spicy ketchup - 4 tablespoons Salt, ground black pepper - to taste Sour cream - 6 tablespoons Butter - 20 grams
How to cook red bean side dish
1. Sort 600 grams of beans and soak in a saucepan in cold water for 8 hours. 2. Drain the beans from the water they were in and add new water to lightly cover the beans. 3. Place the pan on the fire and cook for 90 minutes. At the end of cooking, leave the beans on the stove to brew for about half an hour. 4. Place the finished beans in a colander or sieve and let drain. 5. Pour a little water into the pan to cover the bottom and place on high heat. Add 20 grams of butter and quickly stir it in the water. 6. Place the beans in the pan and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 7 minutes. 7. Season the beans with 4 tablespoons of hot ketchup and 2 cloves of garlic passed through a press. 8. Peel 2 onions, finely chop and add to the beans. 9. Wash 2 sweet peppers, remove seeds, cut into cubes and also mix with beans. 10. Scrape 2 small carrots with a knife, grate them on a coarse grater and add to the vegetable mixture. 11. Sprinkle the side dish with salt and pepper to taste, mix well and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. 12. Place the finished dish in a deep bowl, mix with 6 tablespoons of sour cream. 13. Rinse half a bunch of dill and parsley, chop and sprinkle on top as a decoration.