How to Cook Dry Beans Without Soaking (Tips and Recipes)

Cooking with dry beans is a great way to get more plant-based protein in your diet. Learning to cook dried beans also opens you up to many more varieties of beans you can start cooking with.

Many people are turned away from cooking beans because recipes often ask to soak them overnight which can be very time-consuming. Most of the time this is just a preference and you can cook your beans the day of, without soaking.

Why soak your beans?

It is common for recipes to call for soaking your beans. There are a few reasons for this, but the most common are quicker cooking time and easier digestibility.

For a quicker cooking time, many people will soak their dry beans for 8-24 hours. By softening the beans before cooking, you can cut down on the amount of time needed to simmer them on the stove or cook them in a pressure cooker.

Another reason some people swear by soaking their beans is to improve their digestibility. This one is not fully known if it is true but many people think it has an impact. That is because dry beans contain complex sugars and compounds that may be difficult for our bodies to digest properly. Soaking them can break down these compounds, and in turn, hopefully make beans easier to digest and reduce bloating and gas.

How to cook dry beans without soaking?

Even if you didn’t soak your beans the night before, you can still make them the day of. All you need is hot, boiling water. Boiling water will cook your beans much faster than a traditional overnight soak in cold water.

Cooking beans from dry without soaking is my preferred method. Probably because I always forget to soak my beans the day before.

Here are the steps to cook dry beans on the stove:

1. In a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add oil and any aromatics such as onion, garlic, or herbs.
2. Then add in your beans and cover them with enough water to soak up (about 2-3 inches of water above the beans).
3. Bring the water to a boil and then turn down to a simmer. Cook uncovered until softened. This can take anywhere from 1-3 hours.

After 1 hour, check on the beans every 30 minutes to see how done they are and if they need any additional water.

Can I cook dry beans in a pressure cooker?

One of the best ways to make dry beans fast is to use a pressure cooker or instant pot to make cooking them a little bit faster. You can cook beans from dried in 30-40 minutes. Here is a great post on how to cook dry beans in an instant pot. This post has a breakdown of cooking time based on the kind of beans you are using.

How long does it take to cook unsoaked beans?

Cooking unsoaked beans can take anywhere from 1-3 hours on the stovetop or 30-40 minutes in a pressure cooker. I typically plan on them taking around 2 hours if they are not soaked beforehand.

To make sure you cook your beans in the right amount, stir the beans every 30 minutes. After 1 hour of cooking time, you can start testing the beans to see how much they have cooked. There are a few factors that play into how long it will take, they are:

• How old are your beans? The older the beans are the longer they will take to cook. Sometimes this is hard to know, but if it is taking longer than typical to boil your beans it might just be because they are slightly older.
• What type of beans are you using? Depending on the size and texture of the dry beans you are cooking, the timing may vary. Black beans and great northern white beans may cook much quicker than chickpeas or other heirloom bean varieties.
• What cooking method are you using? If you are using a traditional stovetop method it will take longer than if you are using a pressure cooker.

How do you soften beans quickly?

If you forgot to soak your beans overnight but you have some extra time before cooking you can still soak your beans for a few hours. If possible use warm water to soak your beans in. The warmer the water the quicker they will soften.

For a quick soak method you can bring a pot of fresh water to a boil, then turn it off, add your beans, and let soak for 2-4 hours. Drain your beans and then cook as instructed.

You could also place your beans in a large bowl. Heat some water and pour the warm water over your beans. Then let them sit and soak until you are ready to cook.

If you have over 8 hours you can soak them in cool water, no need to do a hot soak.

Best beans to cook without soaking

There are so many bean varieties you can choose from when looking to cook dry beans. Typically the smaller the bean the quicker they are to cook. A few beans I love to cook without needing to soak them are black beans, pinto beans, and cranberry beans. This also goes for other legumes like lentils. You do not need to soak these before cooking.

I have found that white beans typically cook a little quicker as they tend to have a softer coating.

Almost all beans can be cooked without soaking some might just take a bit longer.

Beans you can’t cook without soaking

One type of bean that you need to do a thorough soaking process with is Lupini beans. These beans have a very bitter flavor and need to be soaked for multiple days before they are safe to consume. I learned that the hard way. I tried to cook them after soaking them for only one day and they were terrible. If you want lupini beans I would just go for the canned or jarred varieties instead of dry beans. If you want to use dried Lupini beans, check out this recipe and read through it thoroughly before making.

How to cook beans quickly without soaking

If you are looking for other ways to speed up the cooking process many people swear by using an electric pressure cooker. I don't have a pressure cooker so I can't speak to how well they work, but many people say you can cook your dry beans in about half the time.

Dry Bean Recipes

If you are looking for ways to cook your dry beans without soaking them here are a few recipes to try. This cranberry bean recipe is a great brothy bean that is flavored with onions, garlic, and herbs. I love serving this pot of beans with a salad and some crusty bread.

Another good dry bean recipe is this chipotle black bean soup. It is made with dried beans and you can enjoy it as a soup or use the black beans in other recipes like burritos or salads.

Tips for cooking dry beans without soaking

• Taste often. Since beans cook differently every time it is important to taste test your beans throughout their cooking. I like to do this every 30 minutes after the 1-hour mark. Check how soft the beans are so you know how much longer you need to cook them.
• Check the water level. You want to make sure your beans are always covered with water. If too much has soaked up or evaporated you will need to add more water into the pot. If you need to add more water make sure to either add hot water or bring the pot back up to a boil then turn it down to simmer. You want to make sure the cooking liquid is still hot.
• Savor the bean broth. The broth that you cook your beans in is more than just the soaking water You typically add aromatics like onion, garlic, and herbs to the pot. This gives the broth a deep rich flavor that is delicious! I like to serve my beans with a little bit of this broth and soak it up with some nice bread.

Share Your Favorite Dry Bean Recipe

Let us know in the comments if you have any tips or recipes for cooking dry beans.