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How to Cook Dried Black Beans From Scratch (Fast Option!)

Learn how to cook black beans from scratch with this simple step-by-step tutorial. Covering four different ways to cook dried black beans—including a fast 28-minute Instant Pot recipe, plus cooking options for stovetop, slow cooker, and baking black beans from dry in the oven—you'll end up with creamy, perfectly cooked beans every time.
Course Beans
Cuisine American
Diet Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword black beans, dried black beans
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 165kcal
Author Katie Trant

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried black beans
  • 4 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon salt
US Customary - Metric

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. 

  • Why are black 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.

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 596mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 8IU | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 2mg