Everyone I know complains about cooking dried beans. For some reason, no matter how long you soak and cook them, they never get soft. Someone told my mother that it is due to the hardness of our water. She suggested that we buy bottled water to cook our beans in—that it works for her. “Well,” I thought, “if I could afford to buy the bottled water to cook my beans, then I can afford to buy the beans in the can that are done to perfection.”
I have since learned to can my dried beans for myself. You can do it, too.
Soak your beans overnight. The next morning, drain and rinse and put into canning jars. You do not want to fill the jars more than 2/3 as the beans will continue to swell in the canning process. Cover the beans with boiling water, cap and process under ten pounds of pressure. Process 75 minutes for quarts and 55 minutes for pints.
This summer, when the peppers were abundant, I diced the sweet, red bell peppers and onions to mix with my black beans. We heated some up for tacos the other night and they were great.
Since learning this procedure from my friend Sarah, I spend a day doing several turns in the canner. Then, I have beans on hand for a few months. Now, you can do it, too.
Carol, this sounds wonderful! We eat a lot of crock-pot-cooked beans! I've always wanted to can, but it always seemed so daunting. Where do you suggest purchasing the canning equipment?
If you keep reading this blog, Jennifer, you will figure out I'm the Queen of Frugal! I bought my canners at yard sales. But you can find them at the big superstore that starts with a W, or better yet, your local hardware store. Keep the local, small businessperson in business.
Carol! This is so informative!! I want thank you so very much for linking up and sharing this great post:)
I would love to be able to can dry beans! I use them so much, it is so much easier to have them cooked already…I don’t have a pressure canner so I end up cooking a double batch of beans and freezing them.
I do the same thing,I cook big pots of beans and freeze them,I enjoy cooking beans and I have several different “bean Pots” but I always wondered how to can them.
I prefer canning, Kathy, because I’m terrible at remembering to take food out of the freezer before 4 p.m. Once you try it, you’ll be hooked.
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