How to Cook Any Kind of Beans in an Instant Pot

For years, I used my slow cooker to cook dried beans. Then I got an Instant Pot, and now that's all I use.

Most of the time I use this super quick method to take beans from rock hard to soft and buttery in about an hour. But, sometimes I use my Instant Pot's slow cooker setting to cook a pot of beans low and slow. It really just depends on the day's schedule.

Either way, the hands on time to prepare a flavorful pot of beans is about 5 minutes, making this one of the easiest, most accessible recipes in my toolbox. 🙌

3 Reasons Why Cooked Dried Beans are Better than Canned

I've got nothing against canned beans and keep a small stockpile in my pantry at all times. They are essential to those nights when you need a tasty, nutritious meal lickety-split.

But, cooked dried beans are unquestionably better in pretty much every way. Here are three reasons why I generally prefer cooked dried beans over canned:

#1. Cooked, dried beans have better flavor than canned beans.

Cooked, dried beans have a deep, complex flavor you'll never get from a can. on the other hand, canned beans can sometimes have a slight metallic flavor. Also, certain brands somehow manage to be both too salty and bland.

But the best reason to use dried beans is that you can season and flavor them however you wish, adapting their flavor profile to whatever dish you plan to use them in.

#2. Cooked, dried beans have a better texture than canned beans.

While canned beans can be on the mushy side, the consistency of cooked, dried beans is tender and creamy. Almost buttery.

Cooking with dried beans also allows you to control how long you cook them. If you're making tacos and want your beans to be on the firm side, cook them less. If you're making something like hummus, refried beans, or soup, cook them a bit longer.

#3. Cooked, dried beans are more economical than canned beans.

Granted, canned beans are not exactly expensive. Still, cooked, dried beans cost a fraction of what you'll spend on the same amount of canned beans. And, I mean... how many other times in life do you get a superior product for less money???

Do I Need to Pre-Soak Beans Before Cooking them in the Instant Pot?

Nope. There is no need to presoak beans before cooking them in the Instant Pot. You can pull the package of beans from your pantry, dump them into your instant pot, and be eating deliciously flavorful and tender beans in about an hour.

Having said that... there are a few reasons you might want to pre-soak dried beans. Soaking beans in water for about 12 hours before cooking them in the instant pot does three things:

1. It reduces the cooking time
2. Creates a slightly better texture, with fewer split-open and burst beans
3. It makes them a bit more digestible

Really, it's that third reason that is the most important one. If you have a particularly difficult time digesting beans, soaking them for a few hours before cooking them can make a difference.

To pre-soak your beans simply dump them into a large bowl and cover them with water. Leave them to soak for about 12 hours, then rinse well and proceed with the recipe.

6 Simple Steps to Cooking Beans in an Instant Pot

1. Rinse. Put the beans into a strainer and set it in the sink. Run some water over the beans to rinse and look for any little pebbles that might have snuck their way in there when the beans were collected and packaged.
2. Just add water. Dump the beans into your Instant Pot and add 4-6 cups of water. The amount of water depends on how you intend to use them. Using less water will result in a thick, starchy sauce with a strong flavor. Using more water will result in less starchy beans with a more mild flavor. (You'll find more tips for how much water to use below and in the recipe card.)
3. Flavor! Add salt, dried herbs and spices, and a touch of baking soda.
4. Cook. Cook the beans on high pressure for the directed time. (You'll find the cook times for different kinds of beans below and in the recipe card.)
5. Let the pressure release naturally. Once cook time has released, let the pressure release naturally for at least 20 minutes. After that, you can continue to let the pressure release naturally or press the top steam valve to release the remaining pressure. When using the steam valve, please protect your hands and face with oven mitts or by loosely wrapping a kitchen towel around the steam valve to catch splatters.
6. Optional: Once beans have finished cooking, add in a splash of apple cider vinegar which can help make the beans easier to digest.

Cook Times for Different Kinds of Beans

This is a general recipe that works for pretty much any kind of dried bean except for split peas and lentils.

It's important to think of the cook times below as a general guideline. Use them as a guideline and then adjust future batches to your personal tastes.

If you are planning to use the beans in dishes that require firmer beans, like salads or tacos, use the lower end of the time range. If you're planning to use them in dishes that require soft beans, like hummus, refried beans, or soup, use the higher end of the time range.

• Pinto beans: 40-45 minutes
• Black Beans: 30-35 minutes
• Garbanzo Beans: 40-45 minutes
• Great Northern Beans: 35-40 minutes
• Kidney Beans: 40-45 minutes
• Cannellini Beans: 30-35 minutes

How to Add Flavor To Your Beans

Besides beans and water, there are three other flavor ingredients to add to any pot of instant pot beans:

1. About 1 tablespoon of oil. This can be any kind of oil you like. The little bit of fat will help reduce the amount of foam the beans create as they cook and create a slightly creamier texture.
2. Add some salt. Some recipes call for adding salt after beans are done cooking but I much prefer to add it at the beginning. Adding salt at the end will only flavor the outside of the beans. Adding it to the cooking water means that the beans will absorb the salt, flavoring the beans from the inside out. The amount of salt that you use is up to you. I almost always use 2 teaspoons. If you are sensitive to salt or on a low-salt diet, you can start with as little as ½ teaspoon and then sprinkle in a bit more if you like after the beans are cooked.
3. Add whatever herbs and spices you like! I like to add a bit of garlic and onion powder to pretty much any kind of beans I'm cooking. After that, I try to add herbs and spices that match the flavor profile of the dishes I plan to use the beans in.

Planning to make some chili, tostadas, nachos, or burritos this week? Add some chili power, cumin, and oregano.

Perhaps you're in the mood for Italian or Mediterranean flavors. Add some rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, and crushed red pepper.

Making some middle eastern or Indian dishes? Toss in some allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, coriander, cumin, and dried chilies.

How Many Dried Beans Do You Need to Cook for a Recipe?

One pound of dried beans is equal to about 2 cups.

As they cook, the dried beans will absorb the cooking liquid and triple in size. So, 1 pound (2 cups) of dried beans will give you 6 cups of cooked beans.

Many recipes call for 15 ounce cans of beans. This is about 2 cups cooked beans.

• 1 pound of dried beans = 2 cups of dried beans = 6 cups of cooked beans
• ½ cup dried beans = 1 ½ cups cooked beans = one 15 ounce can of beans

How to Store Cooked Beans

The recipe makes about 6 cups of cooked beans. You can cut the recipe in half if you don't need that many. But, I've found that it's not that difficult to use 6 cups of beans in different dishes throughout the week.

You can also freeze leftover cooked beans. And having cooked beans in your freezer is almost as convenient as having cans of beans in your pantry.

You have two options when storing cooked beans in the refrigerator or freezer:

1. Store cooked beans in some of the cooking liquid. This will keep them moist and tender. Plus, the cooking liquid contains a lot of flavor. So, if you're planning to use the beans in soups or stews, adding the cooking liquid along with the beans can give the whole dish a flavor boost.
2. Rinse and dry the beans before adding them to a storage container. This is a good option if you're planning to freeze the beans and don't have a particular use in mind. When beans are frozen after being rinsed and dried, you can add them straight into a recipe without thawing.

How long will cooked beans keep in the refrigerator or freezer?

Cooked beans will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. I like to store them in their cooking liquid to keep them from drying out. Then, depending on what recipe I'm using them in, I'll either add the cooking liquid with the beans or rinse the beans before using.

Cooked beans will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Beans can be frozen in some of their cooking liquid or rinsed and dried before freezing.

I usually freeze beans in 1 ½ cup portions which is equal to one 15 ounce can of beans. Freeze beans in ziptop bags or another airtight storage container.

Instant Pot Beans FAQs

Recipes that use Cooked Beans:

One of my favorite ways to use cooked beans, especially when I have some leftover from another recipe, is to toss them into a pot of 30-minute rotisserie chicken soup. The soup is a great way to use up all kinds of leftovers or those random veggies rolling around in your crisper.

• White Beans on Toast with Veggies and Greens
• Tamale Pie with White Beans, Chorizo, and Salsa Verde
• Vegetarian Chili
• Creamy Chicken Chili
• White Bean and Kale Soup
• Creamy Black Bean Soup
• Vegetarian Stuffed Poblano Peppers
• Cuban Chicken and Rice