My aunt swore by rinsing canned beans to save money so I tried it for a month

I saved $3.50 a week just by buying dry beans and cooking them myself instead of canned, and honestly I should have listened to her years ago but has anyone else found that dry beans actually taste way better too?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniel_gonzalez1mo ago

The "creamy texture" part is where I actually disagree. I've been cooking dry beans for years and honestly I think most of them come out less creamy than canned. Canned beans are already fully cooked and sitting in that starchy liquid so they're softer by default. Dry beans you have more control over but they tend to stay firmer unless you really overcook them. And that soaking thing is exactly why I switched back to canned for most weeks. If I forget to soak dry beans overnight then I'm stuck eating rice for dinner or ordering pizza. $3.50 a week is real savings but my time and my brain space are worth something too. I'll take the can and use the extra 15 minutes to do literally anything else.

nancyjones1mo ago

Actually that's $3.50 a week not a month, but I get what you're saying. I started cooking dry beans about two years ago and the taste difference is huge, especially with black beans. They just have this creamy texture you never get from a can. The only catch for me is remembering to soak them the night before or I end up scrambling for takeout.

the_wendy1mo ago

Have you actually tried the quick soak method though? You just bring the dry beans to a boil for a couple minutes, then let them sit covered for an hour instead of overnight. It's not quite the same as a full soak but it gets you 90% of the way there and saves you from the takeout scramble. I agree canned beans are convenient but the texture difference is real, especially if you season them while they cook.