Make Your Own No-Salt Beans
Have you wondered how to cook beans from scratch but were kind of intimidated, thinking it was a confusing or hard process? Me too, and now that I’ve done it a couple of times I’m not sure why I waited so long to give it a try. It turns out cooking dry beans in the crockpot makes the whole process super easy!
For me, the motivation to finally cook dried beans myself instead of buying the cans is because I wanted a no-salt option, but that was always the most expensive canned option at the store. When I did the math, I discovered that when I make by own no-salt beans from scratch in the crockpot I end up saving almost 75%. That certainly gave me the motivation to use this method too!
Cooking Dried Beans From Scratch In The Crockpot
The first step to cooking dried beans to to rinse them in a colander and then put them in a large bowl to soak in water overnight. Have about a couple inches of water over the top of the beans because they will swell up a bit. There’s some debate on whether this step is needed, but I’ve decided to still take this step and let the beans soak.
The next morning, drain the water, rinse the beans again, and put them in your crockpot. Cover the beans in the crockpot with water, again having an extra inch or two of water above the beans and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until the beans are soft. This is not the most glamorous process, but all you are doing is softening up your beans.
Then I turn off the crockpot, drain off most of the water and then let the beans just sit there for a while to cool down before transferring them to ziploc bags (or other storage container of your choice). I use a slotted spoon as there will still be some excess liquid with the beans in the crockpot, and put the cooked beans into quart sized ziploc bags.
If a cook a 1 lb bag of dried black beans, I can divide the cooked beans between four bags, with about 1½ cups per bag. So each bag contains almost exactly the same amount as a 15 oz can of black beans. Perfect! I then lay them flat in the freezer to store them until needed.
Of course if you want some salt in your beans, you can do that too. That’s the joy of making your own and you can add as much or as little as you want. If you decide to add salt, do it at the end when the beans are cooked as the salt can keep the beans from softening up like you want them too.
Recipes to use your cooked beans:
How to cook dried beans in the crockpot
Equipment:
- Crockpot (4 quart size)
Ingredients:
- 1 Lb bag of dry black beans
- water
Instructions:
- Soak the beans overnight first: Rinse the dried beans in a colander. Then transfer them to a large bowl and cover with water, with at least a couple extra inches of water over the beans, and let them soak overnight.
- The next morning, drain the water, rinse the beans again, and put them in your crockpot.
- Cover the beans in the crockpot with water, again having an extra inch or two of water above the beans.
- Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or until the beans are soft.
- Turn off the crockpot, drain off most of the water and then let the beans just sit there for a while to cool down before transferring them to containers for storage. I use a slotted spoon as there will still be some excess liquid with the beans in the crockpot.
- I divide a pound of cooked beans between four quart size ziploc bags, putting about 1½ cups of beans into each bag. This is about the same amount of beans as in a 15 oz can.
- Store your cooked beans in the freezer if you are not going to be using them in the next few days.
Notes:
Hello,
I so like your recipes and tips. You are so creative. Will be on the lookout for any new creations!! Thank you.
This system looks good!! Have read that kidney beans must be soaked for up to 13 hours or so due to something in the beans which can make one very ill.
Thank you!!
The cost of electricity, which for beans will be quite considerable is not taken into account.
You will be spending more on home cooked compared to industry produced.
Not sure if I agree. Most crockpots are quite energy efficient. So even though they are plugged in for several hours, I don’t think the energy usage is that big of a factor in the final cost comparison.
While electricity costs weren’t factored in here, crockpots use on average less energy to run than a standard lightbulb. The costs won’t be “considerable” unless you live in an area that considerably overcharges for electricity, in which case you would have much more serious cost issues than a crockpot!
Over the course of 8 hours on low, you would be looking at a cost that is still less than .50c of electricity in most areas. (Realistically more like .15-.25c, but I’m being conservative) With the volume this creates, you’re definitely coming out ahead even with the electricity factored in.
I made these and they were wonderful. I added seasonings a few hours in!
I have cooked pinto beans as well as great northern beans in my crockpot for many years. So easy. I do not soak my beans . I pick over my beans to get any broken ones, and any stines out. Then, I rinse thoroughly.and to crockpot with water to cover beans at least 2 inches above beans( I like soup with my beans ). I add one small to medium sweet onion, chopped and Salt free seasoning to taste. Delicious !
I take any kind of bean and rinse them real well in the crockpot then fill with water to the top and I always add a pinch and I mean a pinch of baking soda otherwise it will turn your beans black, but I do this to take the gas out of the beans so you don’t fart so much lol. It really works. I add a ham hock or 3 slices of bacon you can add garlic or onions as well for flavor. I cook all of my beans in the crockpot on low for 8 hours in the morning I put them on high for 2 hours to have for supper time.
I have been cooking various types of beans in my crockpot for years. I don’t presoak them the night before. I use an 3 to 1 ratio of water to beans, cover, and cook on the High setting for 3 to 4 hours.
Thanks for sharing your method Katie! Maybe next time I will skip the soaking too and see how things turn out. (Soaking is probably more important if you don’t use the crockpot)