I want to cook a bag of black beans. I put them in a jar for the

[MJN]

future and threw away the bag. Could you tell me what the cooking directions are in the bag, please? It's the small bag. Also, can't I freeze these after they are cooked for later?

Many thanks!!!

Molly

[lighthouseacademy]

Soak them (cover with water) for 8 hrs. Drain and rinse. Put on the stove with water and simmer for 1-2 hrs on low med until tender. I find that putting salt or acid (tomatoes, vinegar) in before they are done makes them take longer to soften.
Yes, you can freeze them if you put them in the freezer with their liquid. I have laid beans on a tray and flash dried and then put them in a bag before, but they get freezer burn too easily.

[MomOfOneFunOne]

I have no idea what the directions are on the bag but I can tell you how to make a delicious pot of beans.

Empty the bag into the colander or sieve one handful at a time (checking for stones, bad beans, et c.)

rinse well.

Empty beans into crock pot and cover with enough water to leave several inches or more above the level of the beans.

cover and cook all day.

When it's about 30 minutes (or more and you can just turn off the heat and let them sit till you're ready) carefully pour beans from crockpot to pot. Add Better than Bouillon (read the back and add as much as you think is called for). Stir and cook over med to med-hi heat till broth thickens to your liking. serve. The idea is to cook the beans until done in the crockpot and then just thicken and flavor the broth on the stove. I don't like the weak broth that results from cooking beans in the crockpot and I don't like cooking beans on the stove all day. Perfect solution.

I use the same method with all beans with great success.

I don't add salt b/c BtB has plenty. Better than Bouillon is bouillon ( but in a paste instead of a cube or powder. YUMMY!

[Kelli in TN]

Here (http://lentilsandrice.blogspot.com/) is a blog by a mom who cooks a LOT of beans! I've picked up some great tips from her posts on bean cookery.

[lighthouseacademy]

BTW you really should soak because beans before they are soaked contain a carbohydrate molecule which is indigestible by people (3 molecules instead of 1 or 2) which is why beans often cause gas. Soaking breaks up this carbohydrate.