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02-06-2012, 02:34 PM
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#1
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 86
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My beans are hard!
Help! It's my first time cooking with dried beans, but I wanted to try them because canned beans have so much sodium. I soaked my beans overnight, like the directions said. (heck, actually all day and then overnight) This morning I put together chili in the crock pot. It's been cooking on high for 4 hours now, and my beans are still hard! What did I do wrong? Can I fix this in time for dinner 6 hours from now? Thanks!
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02-06-2012, 02:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: VA
Posts: 1,147
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Height: 5'7"
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Did you add enough liquid to the crock pot? What temp are you cooking at and what else is in the pot with the beans?
I've cooked with dried beans before, but I normally boil them after they soak.
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02-06-2012, 02:59 PM
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#3
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Come on Spring!
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Delta, Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 26,840
S/C/G: 232/170/150
Height: 5'0" on a tall day
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Hate to tell you this but you should have cooked the beans separately in water this morning before making the chili. When you use canned beans, they are already cooked. Not sure if you can fix this in time for dinner though.
Sorry. Maybe somebody else has a solution.
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02-06-2012, 03:14 PM
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#4
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Just Me
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 14,707
S/C/G: 364/--/182
Height: 5'6"
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Crockpots vary but you do have to make sure you do have enough water. You might have to continue to cook on high for a few more hours but again make sure there is enough water.
Also, if the beans are old then it may take longer. I usually buy mine at a natural foods store that makes sure their beans are fairly new.
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02-06-2012, 03:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 23,149
S/C/G: 204/114/120
Height: 5'
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I just cook mine on top of the stove and they would have been done by now. How much water did you add to the pot? If I cook a one pound pack of beans I use 8 cups of water.
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02-06-2012, 03:33 PM
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#6
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fake it till you make IT!
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: PA
Posts: 134
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Height: 5'6
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I agree with Ruthxxx. You should've cooked them before adding them to the crock pot. I usually do exactly what you did, with the soaking all day and night. Then once Im done with that I drain them in a strainer, rinse em off, then put em back in a pot filled with water and cook them till their done (about an hour).
Now you know what you did so next time I'm sure things will come out better.
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02-06-2012, 03:44 PM
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#7
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Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 86
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The chili is in the crockpot, and it's on high, so it's boiling. There's plenty of liquid in there, and i can keep an eye on it and add more if needed. It's 4 hours til dinner, surely if it boils the whole time, the beans will be cooked by then?
Thanks for the suggestions. Next time I'll remember to boil the beans AFTER soaking them, and BEFORE adding them to the chili!
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02-06-2012, 03:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 23,149
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Height: 5'
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I would not leave them at a hard boil, if they have been in the Crock Pot severeal hours they should be able to finish cooking on a lower setting, I do mine on top of the stove and let them simmer or cook very slowly.Do not keep taking the cover off to check them as you will be losing heat and lenthenging the cooking time. Leave the cover on and be prepared to scramble eggs if it is not done in time.
Last edited by bargoo; 02-06-2012 at 04:12 PM.
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02-06-2012, 03:59 PM
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#9
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IF for Life
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 406
S/C/G: 198/183/147
Height: 5'8"
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I have, on occasion, gotten a batch of beans that just wouldn't soften. Not often, but every now and then. If your beans puffed up while soaking, they should have cooked fairly well and within a couple of hours, even on a low simmer. If not, maybe you got a bad batch.
I didn't used to soak my beans over night, and they still cooked - they did take all day, though.
Another thing I've done is to rinse them and put them in the pot of water bring to a boil and let them soak for a couple of hours. (For when I wasn't thinking a day ahead).
Regardless, give it a try again. The results are worth it.
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02-06-2012, 04:07 PM
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#10
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pick your hard
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: it was always home
Posts: 635
S/C/G: 240/192/145
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a) I agree with Italiannie - sometimes (if they are too old ) they do not soften easily.
b) when you cook beans, lentils, chickpeas etc and you need to add water, always use warm to hot and never cold.
c) some people add a teaspoon of baking soda when they soak them.
Last edited by Kitcherella; 02-06-2012 at 04:07 PM.
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02-06-2012, 11:08 PM
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#11
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Shrinking Chick
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,431
S/C/G: 288/ticker/160
Height: 5'8"
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Yes, baking soda in the soaking liquid helps - especially if you have hard water.
I like to make baked beans in the crock pot from dried beans. Sometimes they work fine with just soaking, and sometimes they take 12-14 hours on low to soften! Sometimes you just get harder beans. To be safe, I would give the beans a little boil before putting them in the crock pot. Unless you like eating dinner at 9pm.
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02-07-2012, 08:06 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Davis, Ca
Posts: 23,149
S/C/G: 204/114/120
Height: 5'
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How did the beans turn out ?
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02-07-2012, 08:09 AM
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#13
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Come on Spring!
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Delta, Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 26,840
S/C/G: 232/170/150
Height: 5'0" on a tall day
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I was wondering that too. I could go for a bowl of chili for breakfast.
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02-07-2012, 08:15 AM
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#14
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Suck it up, buttercup!
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,405
S/C/G: 237/165/165
Height: 5'8"
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One thing is very important. DO NOT SALT!! Beans can only be seasoned after they are soft. If you add salt to cook them the skin will turn hard. You need to cook them until soft first then add your seasoning, salt or whatever.
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02-07-2012, 08:40 AM
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#15
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PCOS/IR/Hypothyroid
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,855
Height: 5'8"
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Now you know... cook the beans NAKED and FIRST.
Both salt and tomato can make beans stay hard.
I hope you managed ok. Hang in there with learning to cook from dry -- it is worth it!
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