Soaking of the beans

[The empressof all]

I don't know what I was thinking. I just started making bean soup with my left over ham bone. I dumped everything into the pot and put it on. Only then did I remember I forgot to soak the beans overnight.

If I cook it all day will the beans get soft like they are suppose to?

I make this only once a year--but I should have known better.

[bearfan454]

1. They'll do fine.

You just might have to cook them a little longer. I just keep adding chicken broth or water. Chicken broth makes them taste a little richer plus you don't have to add that much salt because the canned broth is loaded with salt.

[silverlib]

2. Another tip

I don't know if it is true, but when my mother cooked beans without soaking, she boiled the water (or heated the broth) before adding, as she said adding cold liquid would make the beans harder.

And I would say it will take much longer to cook them, but they will be wonderful and surely worth it.

Good luck!

[Dora]

3. I've made that mistake

and had to wait until the next night to eat the beans.

[wildeyed]

4. Takes longer, but should be fine.

Beans are forgiving in that respect.

[n2mark]

5. If I forget

I slowly boil the beans for 30 minutes, let set on the stove for an hour then cook until done, depending on the type of beans beans they should be cooked on the stove within 2-3 hours.

[NMDemDist2]

6. yup, that's the way

also unsoaked beans are truly the most musical of fruit

soaking makes them much less "gassy" but no better tasting :)

[DemBones DemBones]

7. I never soak beans overnight. What I do is

to pick over and rinse my dried beans, then put them in a pot for cooking. Meanwhile, I've been bringing water to a boil in a kettle or other pot. I pour boiling water over the beans and bring the water up to an inch or so over the beans, bring to a boil agail. Boil three minutes. Remove from heat, soak one hour. Add more water as needed and cook.

I copied a recipe for Navy Bean Soup tonight that's done in a crock pot, something I've never tried before. Considering how much I hate having beans boil over, it seems like a method worth investigating!