I make really delicious slow cooker black beans every Sunday, following this recipe I found online:
http://cafejohnsonia.com/2013/02/how-to-slow-cooker-black-be...
She recommends skipping the soak and I haven't noticed any problems yet!
Don't soak your dried beans
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Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#12I am genuinely curious, why is this post on Hackernews' front page? Yes I know this type of comment is typically frowned upon (and will happily accept the downvotes), but seriously--a story about cooking beans with some vague science and anecdotes?
It's ironic that something named "Hacker News" focuses so much on rationalism & observable "proofs".
This article seems to be in the spirit of a Hacker. Vague science & anecdotes on something that seems to work is a pathway to discoveries & innovations.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#13I like to soak beans for over 24 hours in order to let them start to ferment (lactobacillus, not yeast) a little. It can be tricky to get the right timing, but I think that the slight tang is quite tasty.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#14I've cooked beans almost every day for years and my experiences are not at all in line with what the amateur in this article thinks he has discovered.
From your snide wording and claimed expertise, I take it you're a professional bean cooker? Was your post just a teaser?
Well, I'm often skeptical of articles that claim "everything you know about x subject is wrong". As I said, I've cooked beans just about every day for years. Yes, I could easily be a professional bean cooker. The journalist stated that he has very little experience actually doing this himself and based his conclusions on a few ad hoc tests. The journalist is neither experienced nor an expert.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#15I am genuinely curious, why is this post on Hackernews' front page? Yes I know this type of comment is typically frowned upon (and will happily accept the downvotes), but seriously--a story about cooking beans with some vague science and anecdotes?
Maybe people are thinking about lunch.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#16I've cooked beans almost every day for years and my experiences are not at all in line with what the amateur in this article thinks he has discovered.
Why do you describe the author as an amateur? He's been writing about cooking for 30 years and has several published cookbooks. What does qualifications would he need to be a "professional" bean cooker?
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#17Please do not spread this incorrect information!
The reason you soak beans is not to improve the flavor. It is to dissolve the flavorless and indigestible sugars that give you massive bean-gas when you eat them. If you soak beans well before cooking -- then change the water and cook them -- then change the water again and rinse them well before finishing the cooking process -- you will have a tasty, nutritious treat that doesn't make your ass explode!
That's right! You can have totally fart-free beans. Only most restaurants and chefs are totally oblivious to this fact, so you can't really trust prepared beans any time you go out. There should be a certified-fart-free label for the restaurants that really know what's up.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#18Please do not spread this incorrect information! The reason you soak beans is not to improve the flavor. It is to dissolve the flavorless and indigestible sugars that give you massive bean-gas when you eat them. If you soak beans well before cooking -- then change the water and cook them -- then change the water again and rinse them well before finishing the cooking process -- you will have a tasty, nutritious treat…
I've also always heard that, but isn't that one of the myths that the article supposedly disproved?
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#19I do agree that unsoaked beans are more flavorful, but I disagree with the assertion that "soaking does absolutely nothing to reduce the gas-producing properties of beans". I've eaten them both ways for years, and in my experience, unsoaked beans definitely produce more flatulence. The exception to that is pressure-cooking. Pressure-cooked unsoaked beans do not seem to produce any more flatulence than soaked. I'm not sure the scientific reason for that.
Re: Don't soak your dried beans
#20Please do not spread this incorrect information! The reason you soak beans is not to improve the flavor. It is to dissolve the flavorless and indigestible sugars that give you massive bean-gas when you eat them. If you soak beans well before cooking -- then change the water and cook them -- then change the water again and rinse them well before finishing the cooking process -- you will have a tasty, nutritious treat…
> Only most restaurants and chefs are totally oblivious to this fact
For some reason I find this hard to believe.