Cooked Dried Beans Cooks Illustrated Recipe

Name: Cooked Dried Beans Cooks Illustrated
Prep time: 240 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 290 min
Yield: Serves 1 or more
Ingredients: Dried Beans; 1 bay leaf; Garlic Cloves; 6 cups water; Table Salt

Elevate your home cooking with this Cooks Illustrated-inspired recipe for perfectly cooked dried beans! Forget bland canned beans – this recipe delivers incredibly flavorful, tender beans with a surprising garlic punch. While it requires some pre-planning (soaking for 4 hours or overnight), the actual cooking time is just 50 minutes. This recipe is surprisingly simple and yields beans that are restaurant-quality. Enjoy them as a side dish, in soups, stews, or salads! Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Prep Time 240 mins

Cook Time 50 mins

Calories 4.5 kcal

Protein 0g

Rating 5.0 (2 Reviews)

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Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Cooked Dried Beans Cooks Illustrated

Dried Beans
1 bay leaf
Garlic Cloves
6 cups water
Table Salt

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How to Make Cooked Dried Beans Cooks Illustrated

Rinse 1 pound of dried beans (such as cannellini or Great Northern) thoroughly under cold water.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the rinsed beans, 6 cups of water, 2 cloves of garlic (minced), 1 bay leaf, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, partially cover the pot, and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes, or until the beans are almost tender but not mushy. Stir occasionally.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Cover and let the beans stand for 15 minutes to fully absorb the remaining liquid.
Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid if desired (great for adding to soups or stews). Discard the bay leaf and garlic cloves.