How to Cook the Equivalent Amount of Beans in a 400 g can
Beans tend to triple in size, for example if you want to end up with the equivalent of a 400 g can of beans, 1 1/2 cups of cooked beans, you want to start with 1/2 cup dried beans.
Instructions:
- Rinse 1/2 cup of dried beans, pulling out any that don’t look like others i.e weird looking coloured ones. Place in a container and add cold water allowing 5 cm of water on top. Ideally soak overnight or a minimum of 4 hours .. soak them in the morning before you venture out and then they’ll be ready to cook when you get home 🙂
- Drain the beans, add to a pot and cover with water about three times the height of the beans in the pot. Feel free to add a couple of bay leaves, chopped carrot, celery or onions for extra flavour .. or not.
- Simmer uncovered, as per the times below:Chickpeas – 1 1/2 hours
Black Beans – 1 to 1 1/2 hours
Kidney and Cannellini Beans – 1 1/2 hours
White Beans – 1 to 1 1/2 hours
Pinto Beans – 1 1/2 to 2 hours - To test if cooked, try eating about 4-5 of them. If tender then they are cooked. Add a few pinches of salt in the last 10 minutes.
- Drain and store the cooked beans in the fridge or freezer until ready to use them.