How To Cook Black Beans In The Instant Pot

How To Cook Black Beans In An Instant Pot

These black beans are quick and easy to make. See the recipe box at the end of this post for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

If youre just getting started with Instant Pot cooking, read my simple Instant Pot Instructions. Then try a few of my other favorite basic Instant Pot recipes: Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs, Instant Pot Brown Rice and Instant Pot Shredded Chicken. You might also enjoy these Healthy Instant Pot Recipes.

How To Store Black Beans

Cooked black beans will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or you can freeze them for a longer shelf life. To freeze black beans, line a large baking sheet or plate with parchment paper.

Pour the cooked beans on the lined pan, and arrange them in a single layer. This way they will freeze individually, instead of in big clumps. This makes measuring them later easier! Freeze for 2 hours, or until the beans feel frozen, then transfer to an airtight container to store in the freezer for up to 6 months. The beans should remain individually frozen this way, so theyll be easy to thaw and measure for recipes later.

Cooking Time For Instant Pot Black Beans

I made so many batches of beans in the process of developing this recipe, my family has since hidden my Instant Pot. I tried them soaked and unsoaked, in large batches and small, and with different brands of beans. One thing I know for sure is that black beans do differ, largely depending on how long theyve been shelved at the store or in your pantry. In general, I got the best results cooking soaked beans on high for 11 minutes and unsoaked beans for 30 minutes, with about 15 minutes of natural release time.

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Cooking Tips For Instant Pot Black Beans

• Salt beans after cooking, not before. This helps the beans to become tender while cooking.
• When Im in a hurry , I take a shortcut with this recipe by omitting the chopped onion and minced garlic. Instead, I add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder along with the other seasonings. The beans are still so delicious!
• If you want to use your black beans in recipes for baked goods or non-Mexican flavored dishes, you can make these Instant Pot black beans without seasonings. Simply add only the beans and water to your Instant Pot and cook as directed in the recipe. You can salt the beans after cooking, if desired.

When Is A Pressure Cooker Up To Pressure

• With the Instant Pot make sure the vent is in the sealed position, use the Manual setting and set the cooking time. When time light comes on, its up to pressure.
• With a stovetop pressure cooker, heat on high flame until the steamy jiggle noise begins in earnest, then turn the heat down just so it maintains pressure, then start your kitchen timer.

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Add To Instant Pot And Cook

Add beans to the inner pot of a multi-functional pressure cooker . Cover with a few inches of cool water or broth. Optional: Add seasonings and aromatics such as salt, garlic, onion, bay leaves, cumin, red pepper flakes, etc. Close and lock the lid. Set the valve to the sealing position. Cook on high pressure for 21 minutes.

Tips For Preparing Dried Beans

You need to prepare the beans a bit before cooking them. The first step is to spread the beans out on a plate or baking pan. Once spread, you need to pick out any bits of broken beans, stones, or other debris that may be in there. You will probably find very little to pick out, but it is worth the extra time to do it since sometimes the producer can miss a small stone. And you dont want to bite into that!

Once sorted, place the dried beans in a colander and run cold water over them to rinse of any dirt or debris.

The third and final step usually involves soaking the beans for several minutes. One of the big advantages of the Instant Pot is you dont need to soak the beans first. You can just start cooking once the beans are rinsed.

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How To Store Leftovers

Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer, and reheat well with these simple tips:

• To refrigerate or freeze in containers: Let the beans cool completely. Place the beans in airtight containers of desired size. Refrigerate for up to 4 5 days or freeze for up to 2 3 months.
• To freeze flat : Let the beans cool completely. Portion them into freezer friendly ziplock bags and label with the date. Seal the bags, removing as much air as possible. Then squish the beans so the bag lays flat. Freeze flat for up to 2 3 months.
• To reheat: If the beans are frozen, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat them in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often until warmed through. You can also zap them in the microwave, stopping to stir every 30 seconds to 1 minute, until warmed through.

Bean Cooking Tips & Notes

• Soak – Soaking your beans dramatically cuts down on cook time, as well as making them easier on your stomach
• Salt – Beans soaked and cooked in salt water are more flavorful and tender, without bursting out of their skins
• Add enough water for soaking – Make sure you cover your beans by 2″ when soaking them. This allows the beans to re-hydrate and become more tender.
• Add a pinch of baking soda while cooking – Baking soda creates an alkaline environment, which allows the beans to cook more quickly and turn soft and creamy from within.

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What Types Of Beans Can You Cook In An Instant Pot

That’s a great question! And the answer is most. There’s really only one type of bean I wouldn’t bother cooking in the Instant Pot and that’s red lentils. Red lentils are super delicate, cook very quickly on the stove already and you’ll end up spending more time cooking them in your pressure cooker.

All other beans are fair game!

If you’re wondering where to get dried beans, my friends at Bob’s Red Mill are always my go-to! Their beans are super high quality and they have an amazing selection to choose from. Just check out the bean section on their site to see what I’m talking about!

What If My Beans Are Still Hard

Occasionally, you might open your pressure cooker and find that your beans are still a little crunchy or not cooked quite as much as you like. This is fine! The cooking times I give in the recipe are just general guidelines, but know that there can be quite a lot of variability in the beans themselves. Your beans might take a little longer to cook than expected depending on their age, their type, or even the type of water you use .

If your beans aren’t quite done, here’s what to do: Put the lid back on the pressure cooker and make sure the release valve is set back to “sealing.” Cook at high pressure for another 5 to 10 minutes . The pot will quickly come back up to pressure because the contents are already hot. Check your beans after the extra cooking time and continue cooking for longer if needed.

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Stage : Pressure Building And Pressure Cooking

• When the display reads “on”, the heating has started. That means that the pressure inside the pot is slowly building. Once it’s reached the right level of pressure, you’ll see the countdown timer begin. For this quantity of beans, it takes about 12 minutes before you’ll start to see the timer begin its countdown.

• Once the timer begins, it will count down as its cooking. For this recipe, you have 30 minutes of pressure cooking.

Should I Soak Dried Beans

The first consideration in cooking beans, no matter what method youre using, is whether or not to soak them first. That means immersing them in a generous bowl of water for about eight hours or overnight, during which time they expand. Soaking cuts down on cooking time and some believe it improves digestibility . Others say soaking is unnecessary and that the improved digestion is an old wives tale. I found this to be an enlightening write up on the topic, but overall recommend you do what works best for you.

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What Are Black Beans

Black beans were new to me when I moved to US 12 years back. We did not see black beans growing up in India. Although I bet now they are popular there too.

Black beans, also called black turtle beans, are a black colored legume that is native to the Americas. Theyre most popular in Latin American and Caribbean cuisine, such as Cuban black beans, but can often be found in Creole cooking too.

Black beans are a versatile and healthy food that has become so popular for nutrition reasons, you can now find them at markets and restaurants all across the world.

You can find black beans canned or dried by the pound at nearly any grocery store local to you. When in doubt, check the Latin or International aisle at your local market. You can also find black beans at any Latin American or Caribbean specialty store, as well as in the bulk dried foods section at most specialty foods stores such as Whole Foods.

You should store dry beans in a cool, dark place. Make sure that theyre packed in a plastic or glass container with an airtight lid. Dried beans can be stored for 2-3 years without losing valuable nutrients.

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Why We Love These Instant Pot Black Beans:

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Is It Best To Cook Beans On The Stovetop Or In The Pressure Cooker/instant Pot

You can cook beans either way. But to avoid split skin and produce more flavorful beans, cook them on the stovetop. Moreover, water can evaporate during cooking, resulting in a more condensed and thick broth the opposite of what happens in the Instant Pot.

Some think the Instant Pot or pressure cooker should be reserved for when you are in a hurry. According to them, beans may cook unevenly because they may run out of water during the cooking process. Plus, overcooking them is not uncommon and they may become mushy and bland.

I partially agree with them. Yes, what they say can happen, but only if you dont take the following measures:

Do I Have To Soak The Beans Before Cooking Them In The Instant Pot

No, you dont! It is actually better that you skip the soaking step when cooking them in the Instant Pot or in the pressure cooker. The reason why is because it will avoid split skins while retaining the color and nutrients.

The high pressure will tenderize the beans in a fraction of the time that it takes to cook on the stovetop. If the beans are not soaked, it can take about 30-40 minutes for them to cook in the Instant Pot while it takes around 90 minutes to cook on the stovetop.

But if you decide to soak them anyway before cooking in the pressure cooker, it may take around half of the time to cook compared to unsoaked beans. Be aware they may become too tender or start to show split skins.

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How To Use Instant Pot Black Beans

The simplest way to serve these Instant Pot black beans is as a side dish. Drain them and season them to taste with salt, pepper, and fresh lime juice. They pair well with any Mexican-inspired recipe, but I especially like them with cilantro lime rice and veggie tacos like these cauliflower ones or these jackfruit ones.

Instead of serving these beans on their own, you could also add them to larger recipes. Drain and rinse them and use them as you would canned beans or regular cooked dried beans. Theyd be perfect in any of these recipes:

Cooking Black Beans In Instant Pot

Preparing the Black Beans in Instant Pot

• Prep Remove any foreign objects from your beans, then wash and set them aside. Press the Saute function on your Instant pot and let it heat up. After about 3 minutes add oil.
• Saute Once your oil starts to sizzle, add onion, garlic, and bell peppers. Stir for about 3-4 minutes.
• Add the Seasonings Next add creole seasoning, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir for about 2-3 minutes.
• Add the beans and stir.

Cooking the Black Beans

• Close and seal Add water. Close the instant pot and shift your valve to Sealing.
• Pressure cook Press the Pressure Cook button, making sure the High Pressure setting is selected and set the time for 30 minutes. Note: It takes about 10 minutes for the pot to preheat and come up to pressure before it starts cooking. During cooking, avoid touching the metal part of the lid.
• Release pressure Let it release pressure naturally for 10 minutes and then manually release the rest of the pressure.
• Serve Adjust to the desired consistency and serve with rice.

Watch How To Make It

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Cooking Times For Different Beans

If you’re wondering how long does it take to cook beans in Instant Pot, refer to this easy cheat-sheet for cook times. For each type of bean, they were soaked overnight, cooked on High Pressure, then the Instant Pot was naturally released.

Keep in mind that while you will set your cook time to the amount noted, actual cooking will take longer since the pressure cooker takes about 10 minutesto reach pressure.

Cooking Note: Beans take longer to cook when cooked with acidic ingredients, like tomatoes, vinegar or lemon juice. For example, Chickpeas cooked in seasoned water are done in 15 minutes, but in a recipe like Chana masala, which contains tomato and other acidic ingredients, they take 45 minutes.

Can I Make These Instant Pot Vegan Black Beans On The Stove Instead Of The Instant Pot

Yes, but it does require more time.

First, you will need to soak your beans for 8 hours or overnight. Directions should be on the back of your bean package. Drain beans after soaking.

Saute your chopped vegetables in a heavy bottomed stock pot or dutch oven. Then add all your other ingredients.

You will need to add an extra 2 cups of water or stock.

Bring to a boil, and then cover and reduce hit to simmer. Let cook for 3 hours. Check for doneness of the beans and continue cooking if needed until desired texture of the beans. Add more stock if needed. Adjust seasoning to taste.

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The Fine Print: Why You Might Still Want To Soak Your Beans

This said, you do make a few concessions when you skip the soak. The biggest one is the beans’ appearance: You tend to get more split skins and “blow-out” beans when they’re not pre-soaked.

For my everyday cooking, I’m fine with beans that are a bit rough around the edges. If you’re preparing a bean dish for your in-laws or the Pope, however, you might want to plan ahead and set aside the time for a long, careful soak.

Secondly, some people feel that soaking their beans helps makes them easier to digest . Personally, I haven’t noticed a huge difference with my own digestion between soaked or un-soaked beans, but if you find soaking helpful in this regard, then by all means carry on.

If you’d like to soak your beans , then go for it! The pressure cooking time is generally about half the time as unsoaked.

How Do You Make No Soak Black Beans In The Instant Pot

Start by sauteing your onions and sausage or ham. This is going to add a lot of flavor and depth to your dish.

Once you get done with this step, you will turn off the saute and pour in the rest of your ingredients and pressure cook as directed.

Natural release the beans to help tenderize them, and then release pressure and serve in a bowl.

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