Beans, beans good for the heart, the more you eat ’em…well, you know the rest.
Ahh, batch cooking. We all think about doing it, especially when you see those Instagram worthy pics of mason jar salads or yummy dinners thrown together in a snap due to meal prep. But many of us feel like it takes too much babysitting to make it worth it. Ever since becoming aware of how much salt is in well, everything, I wanted to decrease where I could. Beans were my first foray into batch cooking and not only is it nice to have them on hand for batches of chili, meatless meals or throwing together a quick quesadilla for lunch but it’s economical.
You can buy one bag of beans for $1.45 opposed to almost $4 for canned beans that have a ton more waste involved. They freeze well so you can pre-portion them for future meals and the way I do mine makes it so literally only have to watch them for 2 minutes. You’ve got two minutes while you’re doing something else in the kitchen, right? The video shows you how to bring it all together and what the recipe should look like in different stages.
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Batch Cooking: Beans
Ingredients
- 1 bag of dry beans of your choice (garbanzo, navy, pinto, etc)
- Water
- Tools needed:
- Sauce pot
- Slow cooker
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a sauce pan or Dutch oven.
- Add beans and boil for 2 minutes then remove from heat and cover. Allow to sit for one hour.
- Drain beans and add them to a slow cooker half full of water.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours until fork tender. (Or low for 5-6 hours)
- Drain, plan your meals and portion beans out accordingly.
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16 Comments
My kids love the bean song! Such a great plan to make them ahead. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday!
That song appeals to the kid in all of us! 😉
Love batch cooking! It’s one of my sanity-savers, for sure. Thanks for sharing this week at our Encouraging Hearts & Home blog hop.
Yes! A total sanity saver!
What a great idea of a way to use beans in tacos. That looks delicious.
Thanks so much!
Great master recipe! I think the ability to cook dried beans from scratch is a skill everyone should have by the time they leave home – so versatile! Thanks for sharing with Party in Your PJs!
Definitely a fun master recipe to keep on hand! You’re right especially since it’s so inexpensive.
There is nothing better than a wonderful pot of beans simmering on the burner. Your post is awesome and thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
That’s for sure! Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing in the To Grandma’s House We Go DIY, Crafts, Recipes and more link party!
Thanks so much!
Really enjoyed the video! We batch cook beans all the time. It’s so easy. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg 🙂
I know, right!? SO easy and so much you can do with them on the cheap!
I agree with so many of the other posters, this should be a skill everyone has. Unfortunately it has gotten somewhat lost over the years with the convenience of opening a can. Thanks for sharing this with us at the Homestead Blog Hop. ☺
For me, I feel like this is just as convenient as a can with the slow cooker method but less impact on the environment which is a double win!