Learn how to cook black beans from scratch with this simple step-by-step tutorial. Covering four different ways to cook dried black beans, you'll end up with creamy, perfectly-cooked beans every time.
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We're all about beans here on HNL, and black beans have got to be some of our favourites. Did you know that black beans aren't even black? They're actually such a dark blue that they appear black.
Whatever the colour, whether it's making a batch of Black Bean and Quinoa Freezer Burritos or our internet-famous Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie, having a batch of perfectly cooked black beans on hand is the key to so many healthy and delicious recipes.
Table of contents
The Four Ways to Cook Black Beans
We're going to cover FOUR different techniques for cooking dried black beans from scratch to yield perfectly cooked delicious beans every single time. This is only the black beans recipe you'll need!
Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)
I love cooking dried beans in my Instant Pot. The pressure cooker is fast, it's easy, and there's no soaking required. All you need to do is combine dried black beans, water, and a bit of salt in your Instant Pot, and you're good to go.
We've tested a number of different cook times for black beans in the Instant Pot, and have come to the conclusion that the best results are with 28 minutes on high pressure for perfectly cooked, tender beans. Letting the pressure release naturally also results in a better bean.
If you prefer really soft beans, for example for making a batch of Chipotle Black Bean Burgers, you could cook them for 30 minutes on high pressure. If you're looking for a firmer bean, maybe for salads, you could cook them for 25 minutes. But 28 minutes on high pressure will yield great results every time.
Stovetop
Cooking black beans on the stovetop is probably the most straightforward method. You can check the beans anytime you want, and can pull them off the heat the moment they're perfectly done.
All you need to do to make this black beans recipe is combine well-rinsed beans, water to cover, and a bit of salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a rolling simmer, and simmer with the lid off for 40-60 minutes.
The cooking time will depend on whether or not your beans are soaked (more on that below), the age of your beans, and whether your water is soft or hard.
Oven
Cooking beans in the oven was a new technique for me!
When doing research for this post I stumbled on it as a popular cooking technique, and to be honest I kind of rolled my eyes a bit. Why would anyone cook beans in the oven when you could use the stovetop or pressure cooker?
Well consider me humbled - although this technique has among the longest cooking times, it's easy, hands off, and the result was beautifully cooked black beans.
How to cook black beans in the oven? All you need is beans, water to cover, and salt in a Dutch Oven or another heavy, oven-proof container with a lid. Put the lid on, and put the pot in a preheated oven. You'll need to bake your beans for about 80-90 minutes using this technique.
Slow Cooker
Making dried black beans in your slow cooker is by far the slowest (duh!) cooking technique. However, it is hands off, and all you need to do is add the water, beans, and salt - then set it and forget it for 4-6 hours.
As with the stovetop and oven techniques, you can easily remove the lid and check your beans at any time when you cook black beans in the slow cooker. This is a great option if you want to come home to a batch of freshly cooked beans - but you will definitely have to plan in advance.
Seasoning Recommendations
Depending on how you're planning to use your black beans, all you really need to season them with is a little salt. If you're cooking up a big batch of dried beans as part of your weekly batch cooking (see: Batch Cooking for Beginners) I recommend going minimal on the seasonings so you can use them in place of canned black beans in any recipe.
If you want to make a batch of seasoned black beans that are ready to eat as is, you've got options! I love making a batch of our Instant Pot Black Beans and seasoning them with cumin, onion, garlic, and bay leaf - among other things.
If you like a bit of heat, adding some smoky chipotle pepper or chili flakes is a great option. You can always add a squeeze of lemon or lime juice, or stir through some tomato paste - but be sure to leave acidic ingredients like these out until the beans are fully cooked, otherwise you may end up with tough beans.
Black Bean Conversions and Yield
If you're wondering how many black beans you'll end up with, or how much dried beans to cook if a recipe calls for a can of black beans, worry not! We've crunched the numbers and taken the guesswork out of it for you.
Typically, dried black beans will triple in volume once cooked. So 1 cup of dried beans will yield 3 cups of cooked black beans.
- A 15-ounce can of black beans contains roughly 1.5 cups of beans when drained
- ½ cup dried black beans = 1.5 cups of cooked beans
- ½ cup dried black beans is equivalent to a 15-ounce can of beans
- 1 pound of dried black beans yields about 6 cups of cooked beans
- 1 pound of dried black beans is equivalent to 4 x 15-ounce cans of beans
FAQs
That is up to you! Soaking your beans overnight will only save you about 10 minutes in cooking time when using the stovetop technique, so I rarely bother with this. Additionally, beans that have not been soaked tend to have a better texture once cooked, with more intact beans at the end.
Some folks prefer to soak their beans and discard the soaking water to reduce the flatulence-causing compounds that beans are known for. Soaking also breaks down some of the complex sugars in beans that make them hard to digest. So if you're got a sensitive tummy, by all means soak your beans before cooking them.
It can be frustrating to spend ages cooking dried beans that just won't soften. The most common culprit for hard beans is actually the beans themselves - if you have old or poor-quality beans, they can take ages to cook.
If you live in a place with hard water, you may struggle to get your beans to fully cook as the calcium in the water can prevent the beans from softening.
Acidic ingredients, such as tomatoes or lemon juice, can also result in hard beans. It's best to add these ingredients after the beans are fully cooked.
Cooked beans have a relatively short lifespan. If stored in an airtight container in the fridge, your black beans will last for 3-5 days.
To freeze black beans, portion them into a freezer container (I love these silicon freezer bags) along with a little bit of the cooking liquid. Black beans will last for 3-6 months in the freezer.
If you're in a rush for your beans, you've got a few options:
1) Use your Instant Pot. This is by far the quickest cooking method for any dried beans.
2) Soak your beans. This will shave off about 10-15 minutes of cooking time for the stovetop method, and 2-3 for Instant Pot.
3) Use a quick, hot soak. Bring the beans to a boil, then turn off the heat and let sit for 10 minutes. Drain, add fresh water, and cook as you would for the stovetop method.
You certainly can. If you'd rather not cook dried beans, by all means grab a can! Recall that ½ cup dried black beans is equivalent to one 15-ounce can of beans.
Note that some recipes (like our Spicy Instant Pot Black Beans) purposely start with dried beans to allow flavours to infuse with the beans as they cook. In this case, canned beans are not a good substitute.
How to Serve Black Beans
There are so many great ways to serve black beans! If you're making up a big batch of beans you can simply season them and serve with rice for a good old rice n' beans dinner.
Looking for other ideas? We've got you covered:
- Black Bean Fudge Pops
- Chocolate Black Bean Smoothie
- Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
- Black Bean and Quinoa Freezer Burritos
- Sheet-pan Halloumi Tacos with Cauliflower and Black Beans
- Black Bean Tacos
- Black Bean Tortilla Stack
- Butternut Squash and Black Bean Chili
Other types of beans
How to Cook Black Beans
Equipment
Instructions
Instant Pot Black Beans
- Check the beans for any stones or broken beans. Rinse well.
- Add dried black beans, 3 cups water, and 1 teaspoon salt to your Instant Pot.1 cup dried black beans, 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
- Set the Instant Pot to Manual / High Pressure for 28 minutes.
- When the cooking cycle is complete, allow the pressure to release naturally.
Stovetop Black Beans
- Check the beans for any stones or broken beans. Rinse well.
- In a large pot, combine dried black beans, water, and salt.1 cup dried black beans, 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
- Place the pot on the stove over high heat. Bring to a boil, and then reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer with the lid off until the beans are tender - about 40-60 minutes.
Oven Black Beans
- Preheat your oven to 350°F / 180°C.
- Check the beans for any stones or broken beans. Rinse well.
- In a heavy, oven-proof pot such as a Dutch Oven, combine dried black beans, water, and salt.1 cup dried black beans, 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
- Place the lid on the pot, and bake in the oven for 80-90 minutes, until the beans are tender.
Slow Cooker Black Beans
- Check the beans for any stones or broken beans. Rinse well.
- Combine dried black beans, water, and salt in your slow cooker.1 cup dried black beans, 4 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt
- Slow cook the beans for 4 hours at high, 6 hours on low, or until the beans are tender.
Notes
- Nutrition values are an estimate only, and are based on 1 cup of dried black beans serving four people.
- If you're cooking beans in the Instant Pot, you can reduce the water to 3 cups.
Katherine Emerson
Another great idea is to make Black Bean Brownies. They are so good. Nutritious. Can be frozen. A quick and easy snack to grab on the go.
Katie Trant
Yes! We have a recipe for adzuki bean brownies that we love, and sometimes use black beans instead.
Gail
Katie, I'm trying to locate your "recipe" for snack dinner. And, although it gets me lots of page views from your site, I still can't seem to find it. Can you help?
Thanks,
Gail
Katie Trant
Maybe you're thinking of my Vegetarian Cheese Board? I don't really have a recipe for snack dinner on the site, I just mention it a lot! https://www.heynutritionlady.com/how-to-make-a-vegetarian-cheese-board/
Gail
Thanks, Katie. I think I remember seeing a good photo of what you prepared for the kids, which is what I was probably looking for, but didn't find. We have some picky little eaters around here. What did your littles like best on snack dinner day?
Sarah
My favorite method is the Instant Pot. I use it constantly!
I had no idea that using the oven was even possible! Great tutorial, and I'll give it a try sometime.
Katie Trant
The oven technique surprised me too! But I liked it more than expected.
Emmeline
Thank you for this recipe! I’ve always been too lazy to cook beans myself but thanks to your instant pot instructions I’m now saving money cooking them from scratch! And they’re so much tastier!
Katie Trant
Yes! I agree, the taste is so much better than canned.