How to Cook Kidney Beans from Scratch - Quick and Easy Recipe

Name: How to Cook Kidney Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 65 min
Ingredients: 1 cup dried kidney beans; 4 cups water; 1 teaspoon salt

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Learn how to cook kidney beans from scratch with this simple step-by-step tutorial. Covering three different ways to cook dried kidney beans, you'll end up with creamy, perfectly-cooked beans every time.

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overhead photo of dried kidney beans in a white bowl

We are huge fans of beans here on HNL, especially if they're cooked from scratch. So much tastier than canned! Less salty! And so affordable!

We've already covered How to Cook Black Beans and How to Cook Black Eyed Peas, among others, but today we're going to take a deep dive into how to cook red kidney beans from scratch.

Having a batch of perfectly cooked kidney beans on hand is the jumping off point for so many wonderful dishes. They're so creamy and delicious, and since they're a larger bean, they hold up well in many recipes - like in our Vegetarian Chili Recipe.

Are Kidney Beans Toxic?

Here's the tl;dr: raw or undercooked kidney beans can be toxic, even in very small quantities. This would mean eating soaked beans that had not been cooked, or those that have been cooked at too low a temperature.

All beans contain lectins, however, kidney beans contain high amounts of a lectin called phytohemagglutinin (PHA), which can be toxic, even when just a few undercooked beans are consumed. This toxin can lead to vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours of eating the undercooked beans.

However, kidney bean poisoning, as it is referred to, is very easily avoided by simply cooking the beans properly. Kidney beans MUST be boiled for a minimum of 10 minutes at 100°C / 212°F to ensure they are safe to consume.

overhead photo of rinsed kidney beans in a mesh strainer with a white tea towel underneath it

The Three Ways to Cook Kidney Beans

We're going to cover three different techniques for cooking dried kidney beans from scratch to yield perfectly cooked delicious red beans every single time.

Instant Pot (Pressure Cooker)

overhead photo of red kidney beans and water in an instant pot

I love cooking dried beans in my Instant Pot. It's fast, it's easy, and there's no soaking required if you pressure cook your beans. Also, it's a great way to ensure that kidney beans are cooked safely, as the temperature inside a pressure cooker is maintained at or above boiling for a sustained time.

We've tested a number of different cook times for kidney beans in the Instant Pot, and have come to the conclusion that the best results are with 42 minutes on high pressure for perfectly cooked, tender beans.

If you prefer really soft beans, for example for making a batch of Bean Burgers, you could cook them for 45 minutes on high pressure. If you're looking for a firmer bean, maybe for salads or to add to soups, you could cook them for 40 minutes. But 42 minutes on high pressure will yield great results every time.

All you need to do is combine dried kidney beans, water, and a bit of salt in your Instant Pot, and you're good to go. No soaking required! Be sure to check out our post on Instant Pot Kidney Beans for more details.

Note! Letting the pressure release naturally results in a better bean. Quick-releasing the pressure causes the temperature inside the Instant Pot to increase dramatically, which causes the beans to bash around inside. This often results in mushy beans, which a natural release will avoid.

Stovetop

kidney beans in a red dutch oven with a grey kitchen towel in the background

Cooking kidney 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 is combine well-rinsed beans, water to cover, and a bit of salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil and allow the kidney beans to boil for 10-20 minutes to ensure safety, then reduce the heat to a 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.

Slow cooker

You may be wondering whether it's safe to cook kidney beans in your Crockpot or slow cooker. The answer is yes, but only if you have boiled the beans first.

Maybe you don't have time to babysit a pot of beans on the stovetop and would rather throw them in the slow cooker. Totally understandable.

All you need to do is boil the kidney beans for a minimum of 10 minutes on the stovetop, and then transfer them to the slow cooker for the remaining cooking time. It will take 2-3 hours on high, or 4-5 hours on low for the kidney beans to finish cooking.

SEASONING RECOMMENDATIONS

Depending on how you're planning to use your beans, all you really need to season them with is a little salt - go for a teaspoon of salt per every cup of dried beans. 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 beans in any recipe.

If you want to make a batch of seasoned kidney beans that are ready to eat as is, you've got options! You can add your favourite flavors to the cooking water, such as onion, garlic, and bay leaf - among other things. I also love smoked paprika and oregano with my beans.

Be sure to taste your beans when they're finished cooking, and add a bit more salt and additional spices if needed. If you're going to add any acidic ingredients such as lemon or tomato, it's best to wait until the end. Fresh herbs are also a great option.

photo collage with kidney beans in a glass jar before and after soaking

Should you soak kidney beans before cooking them?

That is up to you! Common wisdom suggests that soaking your beans overnight will both speed up the cooking time and lead to more evenly cooked beans. But this myth has been busted in food labs.

Turns out that 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 more flavour, and 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.

You also may benefit from soaking your beans if you don't know how old they are. Fresher beans tend to cook much faster, so if you've had that bag of beans kicking around in the back of your cupboard since the beginning of time, you may want to give them a soak.

overhead photo with a bowl of cooked kidney beans, kidney beans in a black jar, and kidney beans in a silicon freezer bag

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are kidney beans still hard after cooking?

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.

How long do cooked kidney beans last?

Cooked beans have a relatively short lifespan. If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, your kidney beans will last for 3-5 days.

To freeze kidney beans, portion them into a freezer container (I love these silicon freezer bags) along with a little bit of the cooking liquid. Kidney beans will last for 3-6 months in the freezer.

How long does it take to cook kidney beans?

This can depend on many factors, including the age of the beans, whether the beans have been soaked, whether you have hard or soft water, and the altitude you live at. In general cooking a pot of dried kidney beans from scratch could take between 45-90 minutes on the stovetop. If you're using an Instant Pot, or other pressure cooker, the cook time for unsoaked beans is 40-45 minutes, plus the time it takes to build and release pressure.

How to cook kidney beans fast?

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.

Kidney Beans Conversion and Yield

If you're wondering how many kidney beans you'll end up with, or how much dried beans to cook if a recipe calls for a can of kidney beans, worry not! We've done the bean math and taken the guesswork out of it for you.

Typically, dried kidney beans will triple in volume once cooked. So 1 cup of dried beans will yield 3 cups of cooked kidney beans.

A 15-ounce can of kidney beans contains roughly 1.5 cups of beans when drained
½ cup dried kidney beans = 1.5 cups of cooked beans
½ cup dried kidney beans is equivalent to a 15-ounce can of beans
1 pound of dried kidney beans yields about 6 cups of cooked beans
1 pound of dried kidney beans is equivalent to 4 x 15-ounce cans of beans

Other recipes you might enjoy

You'll find plenty of inspiration in our archive of Bean Recipes. Here are some of our favourites:

Instant Pot Black Beans
Instant Pot Pinto Beans
How to Cook Mung Beans
How to Cook Adzuki Beans
How to Cook Black Eyed Peas
How to Cook Black Beans

overhead photo of kidney beans in a white bowl

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