Dried Beans are an inexpensive, healthy, high protein food. However, dried beans require some prep work, like having to be sorted. Because of this, they often get left on the shelf while shoppers buy the canned version. Don’t be that shopper. Preparation is easy so pick up dried beans. Here’s how to sort beans and why you must do it.
Why You Must Sort Beans
During the harvesting and packaging process of dried beans, pieces of debris sometimes end up in the final packaging. Small rocks and pebbles, dirt, twigs, and even a bug or two may end up in the package you bought.
In addition to the natural things found in dried beans that shouldn’t be, you also need to sort beans to get out the “bad beans”.
The meal you worked so hard on doesn’t need any of these unsavory things in it so they must be removed.
What Do Bad Beans Look Like?
Good Beans are plump and smooth. They should look like the majority of the other beans in the same package. Now that you know what to look for, here are the beans that need discarding.
When you sort beans, remove the following types of beans and discard them.
- Shriveled Beans
- Beans with insect holes in them
- Split and broken beans
- Beans that are unnaturally dark or look burned.
- Beans that have mold on them
- Any beans that have loose skins
How to Sort Beans
- Remove the beans from their packaging.
- Place the beans on a large rimmed baking sheet or clean kitchen towel in a single layer
- Roll the beans around and sift through them with your fingers, removing any debris and beans that do not belong.
- Once the beans are sorted, rinse well under cold water and proceed with the recipe you are using them in.
Easy Recipes That Don’t Require Soaking Beans
Another part of bean preparation is soaking the beans. The Instant Pot is a great tool for cooking beans in because soaking the beans is a step that can be skipped.
Here are a couple recipes great for making with sorted beans in the instant pot.
Refried beans are the perfect side dish for Taco Tuesday. Using the instant pot to make them means you can cook them when you get home from work and still get dinner on the table at a reasonable hour. Sort beans the day before and get a head start on cooking.
Instant Pot Black Bean Soup is a Healthy soup full of spicy (or mild) flavor. Pressure Cooking means you just toss the beans in the pot, no soak needed!
Now that you know how to sort beans and you have a couple recipes to get started with grab those beans out of the cabinet or pick up a pound at the store and get cooking!
