Making Dried Beans from Scratch - One of Many Ways 

In response to some questions I see here: The theory that salt inhibits the softening of beans is wildly incorrect, yet you'll read and hear that stated in both cook books and on cooking shows. Beans soften just fine with salt added up front. In fact, they taste much better when salt is added initially rather than after the beans have softened. Acid however, is a far different story. By acid, I mean tomatoes, vinegar, lemon and lime juice, etc. Regardless of how fresh beans are, acid will inhibit the softening despite lengthy simmering. Of course, this can depend on how much acid is added, but even the smallest amount will make a difference. I'm 61 years old and have been eating beans my entire life, and cooking them since I was approximately 10 years old. I'm also a foodie, love beans (I rarely, if ever, eat canned ones), have run side by side experiments for the fun of it, and acid or old beans are the two major culprits. Having grown up in Oklahoma, salty ham hock was a common ingredient and the beans were always soft. Fortunately, I stopped eating those particular beans over 40 years ago. As much as a quarter teaspoon of baking soda in the pot can make beans very soft but is said to compromise the nutrition. Therefore, I would advise against that unless the beans are old and in need of help. If old, I would recommend pre-soaking the beans and add 1/4 tsp of baking soda to the soaking water. Otherwise, I rarely pre-soak beans because it is my opinion that flavor is lost when the pre-soak water is poured off. The one bean that must ALWAYS be pre-soaked is the kidney bean. One should pre-soak kidney beans; pour off the water; add fresh water; bring to a boil; cook 12-15 minutes; pour off the water for the second time; add fresh water, seasonings, etc; then complete the cooking process. Never, ever, ever cook kidney beans in the dump and cook fashion as it can not only cause health issues but will taste like chemicals unless your taste buds are dulled. Do sort through beans to pick out stones and broken pieces. Equally important, WASH the beans, even if nothing more than a single rinse to remove dirt and grime. And finally, if a bean is hollow and immediately floats to the top, scoop off those early floaters because without going into detail, something just isn't right. And finally, I have cooked beans on the stove top, in pressure cookers, and in slow cookers. To this day I may utilize any method. However, it is my opinion that a long, slow simmer yields the best flavor by far.

Love seeing the three of you together.

soak beans overnight, 9 minutes in the instant pot, done!

I make my beans in my instant pot. I make a big batch on Sunday, and I have them all week. I season to go with whatever dish I'm putting them in. In the instant pot I just add water and garlic cloves.

It’s probably a good idea to soak the beans first if you are in quarantine with at least one other person. 😄

My mother wraps the pot in a newspapers and then in a quilt.

Love beans, black ones are my favorite. Soak them overnight and cook them in an instant pot along with whole garlic cloves and some kelp seaweed. I batch cook them, put them in small glass jars in the freezer. I puree some of it into my version of "refried beans" also keep some or all of the water as "bean stock" which I freeze for use as stock.

I live in Iceland so fresh veggies can be such an (expense) challenge, but I’m a diehard WFPB foodie thanks to you guys and the fabulous WFPB online community. My South African grandma introduced “wonder boxes” to the rural women who worked in the city so they could feed their families as soon as they got home. They are magic! My grandma used brown paper boxes and pillows filled with newspaper, you can make them yourself at home.

Here's how I season my beans: Black beans- salt Azuki beans- applewood smoked salt Garbanzo beans- 1 whole onion studded with 4 whole cloves, 1 bay leaf, 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, Himalayan sea salt Pinto beans- salt, dried onion flakes (I always presoak then cook in fresh water)

Made these beans to night for supper they are great. They will be part of my menu. Love it thank you for teaching me how to cook fun and delicious plant base food.

Thank you Jane for the tip about iron absorption improving if we add vitamin c into our meals! Those beans look great!

It's nice to see Ann. Really $1.79 makes 3 lbs of beans. I have broken a tooth on bean stones. Just one broken tooth fixed with a crown will wipe out the savings of all the beans you will ever cook (exaggeration). For sure it hurts like crazy. It takes maybe 30 seconds to pick through your beans and saves tons of money and time. Don't forget to add liquid smoke. I'm going to make a wonder bag with all my pre-WFPB no O almost new jeans that got too big but I refuse to throw out. After cooking, I like to add diced tomatoes and a bunch of baby kale, because, as Ann would say, why not.

Ann is just a delight as for the bay leaf 🍃 bit so funny 😂 😂 I wish I’m this sharp at her age.

I always get organic beans because have heard spraying glyphosate to dessicate the crop before harvest is common practice. Also done on other grains such as wheat and oats.

I just love (Ann) Mom! 😊

In 30 years of cooking beans and lentils from scratch, I just had once a stone in a bag of garbonzo beans. Luckily, I caught eat on time. The little extra effort can save you a teeth

I have an instant pot but prefer stovetop or slow cooker for beans because I like to cook to my own preferred taste and texture rather than to formula. The wonder bag seems like kind of a genius slow cooker that won’t burn anything no matter how long you go away. I’d also love to see more wonder bag uses before I purchase. One of the things I love about your videos is the way you teach us to cook with attention to the foods, the process, the smell and the taste rather than cook by pushing buttons.

The Mennonites have done something similiar to the wonder bag. They call it "putting the baby to bed." I have done it also. You get your rice bubbling, turn off stove and wrap the pot in two thick towels (Not near burner!). Amazingly it finishes cooking while you are in church!

Thanks...….Love your husband too....lol in a good way.....I am a married woman you know...…..OK Jane.....lets be honest....HE IS HOT! I said I was married not dead. Hope you and your family are all well. I cant believe it I have gone 31 days without eating any animal products.....I feel so lucky to have found the Esselstyn Family on the internet....You have been a great inspiration and motivation...….

Read my mind. Want to make black beans today. Watching in NY. Thank You!

I’m in awe of you all. Thank you for your wonderful recipes and helpful ideas

Grettings from Germany!

My mom showed me how to make beans. She said add salt once the beans are done bc it will make them tough otherwise.I still do it that way, but I deviated from the overnight soaking that she did. She was a great cook. I make bean often. Thanks for sharing 🙏🏾

Thank you all for such an informative video on beans! I've never been able to cook a good batch but perhaps now I can!

I am so thankful for this channel. Jane and Ann ... you do such a great job! These beans look delish!❤️❤️❤️❤️

Awesome!....thank you for sharing!

I love the seasoning in these beans, you guys are amazing! Thank you Jane and family for all that you do!! This is real healthcare through preventative medicine ❤

I used to not check for stones either until I broke a tooth biting into a rock in my beans.

I love how real and raw u are, it’s super great fun entertaining and well just simply amazing

Looks delicious! I don’t put any of the spices in, but add a sheet of Kombu. Smells a little bad while cooking but it makes the beans taste so good and kombu also gives you tons of nutrients and minerals, also helps in digesting the beans. The Kombu will disintegrate when stirred. And one more thing! I use it because I have hypothyroidism and need iodine. Forgot to add, I soak my beans overnight and rinse them about four times before I start to simmer them on stove.

I not in favor of Black beans but my husband is,so I’m given this a try. Thanks for all you videos 😊& recipes ! I’m so glad & thankful that I found your book Thanks

That Wonderbag is a wonderful gift idea!

Your bag recipe is fascinating! Thnx! This week I soaked then cooked kidney beans. Today I’m soaking Limas. 🌱❤️👋

Very interesting, learn new things all the time from your videos, thanks!

I'm so grateful I came across your channel. Gonna get cookin' now. Love y'all!

I’m cooking my own beans all the time now and they are so much better that it’s amazing!

Just in time. I wanted to make some black beans today. Thanks for sharing. Great video!

He is so patient

Love, love my beans. Thank you for this!

Making these today!! Thank you. I have never made beans from dry, always canned, so I am anxious to see the taste difference. Love you guys, you are so pleasant to watch!

Looks delicious, thanks for sharing!

2:57 You can get powdered bay leaves or just grind them in a coffee grinder and you won't have any more issues with them!

I’ll be making these beans tomorrow. I have all the ingredients in my house , and I bought a wonder bag last year. It works great.

Making these today💖Thankyou 🙏

I've always used the crockpot because I am bad to forget that things are cooking. Clearly I need one of these bags. :) These beans were perfect except I would also add nooch!

I shall mark my chopping boards. I love your onion board

FABULOUS !!! Best black bean recipe ever

Plant based eating is cheap. I do not understand why ppl think plant based is expensive! I love black beans and never tire of them. Wonder bag is amazing , wow . I use all the seasoning you added plus cumin. Pretty much how I make my southwestern spice . Wonderful recipe..thank you

Thank you! Now I think I will make a batch of beans tomorrow!

Thank Brian for sharing his yummy delicious RECIPE

love learning about the wonder bag and just seeing you guys interact

This recipe was absolutely the easiest and best beans I have eaten. I cook and eat a lot of beans.

Oh I love my Wonderbag! I got it for my birthday five years ago, and it's great!

Thank you for this recipe. I am going to make. It looks so yummy..

Wow! I waaaaaay under season! I can’t wait to try this!

i do crave my great northern beans! I add white onion finely diced, and season with nutmeg!! i stir in red miso at the end.yum!

Would love to hear your views on Instant Pot cooking. I’ve used stove top pressure cooker for decades, I love my IP.

Making this tomorrow and making note to add lime !! Thanks 🌷

I season my beans with cumin, salt, pepper, garlic. I have never used smoked paprika. I recently discovered Janes mixed up pepperdirty at the grocery store and I add that in there too.

I absolutely love black beans!! When I eat them, I feel so good after. I've eaten them so often they don't give me gas at all anymore. I make a pot every week. Thanks for the tip about adding the spices after!

Thank you ladies You are as wonderful as this wonderful bag lol

Great vid, as always. I learn something new every time with every recipe you present. Comments are helpful, too, other than the snarky comments. The anonymity of the internet gives some license to share their comments that doubtful wouldn't be shared f2f!

Thank you for the bean recipe

Michigan navy beans, you always find stones. Thank you about the being meticulous about bay leaves. Great tutorial. Beans on my stove every week. Wonder bag 💼 s one step too far. It’s not on my quarantine order list. Boil for 15 minutes and let sit 1 hour. Then cook.

Love Black Beans..delious

Just made them in my IP, sooooo good! Thank you all!

Great informational video!

I made these and wow, the Chili powder really takes it over the top!! Amazing!!

I don't soak my beans I cook them in the instant pot for 32minutes and they are perfect every time. I love the wonder bag what a great idea. Appeals to the environmentalist in me. Ann I prefer things more on the plain side too. Unfortunately I can't eat hot sauces or chili powder. I had food poisoning a few years ago and my stomach has never been the same. Love all 3 of you and all your family. Thank you for everything you do. I have several cookbooks from the Esselstyn family!

Great ideas!

Marital Bean Bliss! You are all so entertaining! Thanks for the laughs and the recipe! Stay healthy! Big hugs to all of you! xo

My black beans have to be soak in water I 10 to 12 hours to get rid of Lektiner , and then get rid of the water, new water in, and then boil it. That is how we do it in Denmark.

Yummie! We soak our beans overnight in Austria before cooking and I cook them in the good old pressure cooker to safe time. I will try this seasoning ... We have very big butterbeans from Styria here in Austria.. and I love them with rice!! Great video with the three of you! Thank you!

Wow! That looks so delicious. I have some pinto beans on hand and like to try it. Unfortunately, I don’t have the wonder bag (or limes), but hopefully will be able to obtain both of the. I just love your videos!

I LOVE THE WONDERBAG!! I use it every morning for my savory oats or grits! I nuke froz veggies in a glass dish (important to have hot veg in there ) while I boil water, then after my 4 minutes of nuking, add a cup of rolled oats to the dish a cup of water, mix the oats (or grits!) and veg together and then put inside the wonderbag - it absorbs the water perfectly, keeps it warm - i sometimes even put some leftover chili on top before I put the lid on the dish and put it in the wonderbag. I ALSO use the wonderbag to tote cold things to work when we have potluck! VIVE LA WONDERBAGG!!!

Mmmm. Home cooked beans. Nothing like it. Thanks for showing us how you do it.

Love you Brian ❤

I soak mine for a full 24 hours, otherwise it's nasty digestive wise. :)

That was fun! Us bean eaters know it's the seasonings that MAKE them!

My mother used a haychest or put the rice in her bed with a duvet around and on top!

We need Brian to do more cooking for us! Excellent! Xx

Yum thx,👍my son agrees dry beans r btr than canned.💯I boil w/onion,garlic n jalapeno or serrano or dry red chiles. I add salt once they've ve boiled 2 hrs. Lemon on beans or rice is bomb😋(sour cream 2🥰)!

Yummmmm.

The wonder bag would be great for people who camp full-time remotely and are trying to limit their use of water and power. What a great invention!

Black beans are my favorite:))

Cooks like me good job man!

I love Rancho Gordo Ayocote MORADO. Try them. DELICIOUS.

I found small stones in northern beans & green peas in the past.

Absolutely love your videos an the funny down to earth recipes. I want to buy a cookbook but I am having difficult finding an index from any of the books. Where can I find this info? Keep up the great work!

More recipes with a wonderbag option, I just bought one!!!!

That was great seeing the family. I watched another bean cooking video where is was suggested to soak the beans overnight. She said there is a nutrient inhibitor that gets released when soaked. What are your thoughts on that? Also makes them less gassy?😶

For my black beans, after soaking overnight, I toss in the crockpot with low sodium veggie broth, a diced onion, a diced bell pepper, garlic, oregano, a bay leaf and some Cajun seasoning and cook on low all day so I have dinner after work. Bonus - it smells up the place nicely!

My bay leafs have always been so old. No wonder I could not make out the taste in a soup. You can stick the leaf into an onion to find if fast after cooking. People used to put the pot inside a wooden box with old newspapers and wrap their blanket around it. So they were cooking in their bed when there was little firewood.

Love cumin....nice and smoky flavor...can’t get enough of it. Yum. 👩‍🍳

Its funny I have been anemic all my life up until I became a vegan, go figure.

Thank you for all your episodes from a long time follower, first time commenter. My name is Bernadette and I’ve lost 165 lbs from WFPBNO since 2014. I started with Forks Over Knives. I’ve used your videos for motivation. It’s been a long journey. I’ve become a whole food plant based weight loss consultant. I have a group on FB From Obese To Peace: Your Whole Food Plant Based Community Group where we share our struggles. I post your RU-vid videos there and you have quite a following. A sub-group I started is for people who weigh 100 pounds or more overweight suffering from food addiction where we plant basers share our struggles. Thank you again for keeping us going! Bernadette Almeida

Could of used one of them wonderbags when we were homeless displaced.. learning the IP now as I change to total plant based....esp the carrot dogs... watching this to improve my basic dry beans to chili

funny fact, I have been anemic my whole life but since going plant based my iron levels are normal

I have to sort through my beans but I get them in the bulk section but they are even cheaper per pound!

If you add to your plate chopped cilantro . They taste so yummy !