Basic slow cooker beans

I am really trying to stay away from canned foods as much as possible. Since I'm home, it's often easier and cheaper to make completely from scratch.
Dried beans are one of those things cheaper...a bag of beans is really cheap, and cooking them isn't that hard. Especially if you do it in the slow cooker.
The directions for this were taken from "Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker," but I think it's probably pretty intuitive. I went with as basic as it comes, because I wanted to use my beans in soups and other recipes.
Beans freeze well, thankfully, so I think my slow cooker will be getting a lot of use making beans.

1 pound dried beans, picked over and rinsed
1 large onion, quartered (optional)
2 garlic cloves, crushed (optional)
2 bay leaves (optional)

Soak the beans overnight.
Drain the beans and place them in a slow cooker. Add onion, garlic, and bay leaves if using, and enough water to cover the beans. Cover and cook on high for 8 to 12 hours or longer, depending on the type of beans.

I made black beans this time, but also good in the slow cooker are: adzuki beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, chick peas, great northern beans, kidney beans, lima beans, navy beans and pinot beans.

Comments

gwen said…
I've always wanted to start making beans this way, and it's a wee bit pathetic that I always cop out because I have some illusion that it takes too much planning. It is thinking one -- ONE -- night in advance. I can do that. I hereby pledge to you that I will start now!
gwen said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
hefk said…
good tips. I will make the beans soon!

Popular posts from this blog

Dayton's Famous Pine Club Salad Dressing

Pesto Tortellini Salad

Apple Cranberry Stuffed Pork Roast Recipe