Guide to Slow Cooking Beans

Beans were actually a major part in the development of the slow cooker. The desire to cook baked beans on a large scale prompted the commercial development of slow cooker pots. Thus, this appliance is extremely useful for preparing dry beans, peas, and lentils, which can often seem tiresome to prepare using other methods. This is great for anyone who wants to escape the salt and preservatives added to pre-cooked canned beans.

Most dry beans need to be soaked for several hours prior to cooking. However, actual times will vary depending on the type of beans you use. No matter what variety you pick, though, never let your beans sit in water for more than a day. Once soaked, the beans need to be boiled with flavourings like herbs, salt, and spices. This usually takes at least an hour. After this time, the beans can be used for a wide variety of dishes in the slow cooker. These prepared beans cook best when left on a low heat setting.