Tired of the hassle of soaking and cooking dried beans? Discover how Instant Black Beans can revolutionize your meal planning. This versatile ingredient can be used in a variety of dishes, from hearty soups to delicious burgers. Learn how to incorporate these convenient beans into your family’s meals and stock your pantry for any occasion.
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My favorite comfort food as a kid was my Grandma’s homemade family recipe, ham and bean soup. Salty chunks of ham, warm, flavorful beans, with plenty of cornbread slathered in honey butter on the side. Simple, cheap, and yet so delicious, this is a recipe passed down from my family members during the Great Depression.
But the thing is, I never made that soup for myself. Ever. Want to know why? Because the overnight process of soaking the beans drove me nuts! When I wanted (no, needed) Grandma’s ham-and-bean soup, I wanted it ASAP. Soaking the beans was an extra, annoying step that I never felt like taking. It doesn’t matter that beans are a great source of fiber, healthy carbohydrates, and plant-based protein.(I’m not very good at the whole, “delayed gratification” thing.)
Why Instant Beans are a Game-Changer
Oh, yes. You heard me. Instant Beans. While not entirely instant, these babies whack the typical cook time of dried beans in half. Actually, less than half. Like, an eighth? I don’t know, but it’s really fast. Get this — all you do is boil your instant beans in water for 15-20 minutes, and you’ve got dinner! There’s also a delicious recipe on the package for a black bean soup that we will definitely be trying.
Since these “Instant Beans” seemed too good to be true, I decided to put them to the test. Soup is great and all, but a decent vegetarian bean burger is hard to pull off if your little legume friends are still crunchy. I used this recipe for black bean burgers from Buzzfeed Tasty and made two batches — one batch using traditional, canned black beans, and one using freeze-dried Instant Black Beans.
Let’s cook!
Putting Instant Beans to the Test: A Black Bean Burger Showdown
To truly test Instant Black Beans, I decided to put them head-to-head with traditional canned black beans in a classic black bean burger. Both burgers were made using the same recipe and cooking method, with the only difference being the type of bean.
Preparing the burgers was a breeze. Instant Black Beans measure out cup-for-cup, just like fresh or canned beans. They look very similar to canned beans, but you’ll want to cook them a bit longer to ensure they’re soft enough. I learned this lesson the hard way when I took a bite of my burger and encountered a crunchy bean! It’s a good idea to taste-test a few rehydrated beans before adding them to your recipe.
I added fresh cilantro to both burgers for an extra burst of flavor. While both burgers were delicious, the one made with instant beans didn’t hold together quite as well as the one made with canned beans (likely due to the undercooked beans). However, the taste and texture were still excellent.
The Verdict
Both burgers were delicious! While there was a noticeable difference in appearance, the taste was virtually identical. The instant beans had no weird aftertaste or off-putting texture. I was incredibly impressed with this product.
Do I Recommend Instant Black Beans?
If you’re interested in adding instant beans to your pantry, I definitely recommend them!
Beans make great meal stretchers, without sacrificing nutrients or protein. There are also Instant Refried Beans (say what?!) if you prefer those over black.
Simply boil the beans in water for 15-20 minutes, and they’re ready to use. No soaking required!
Yes! Instant Black Beans are incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, including soups, stews, chili, salads, and burritos.
Yes, Instant Black Beans retain their nutritional value, including fiber, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals.
Related Freeze-Dried Food Content
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- Just-Add-Hot-Water Meals: How to Decide Which Brands and Varieties are Right for Your Family
Get Your FREE Freeze-Dried Food Primer Now!
Final Thoughts
For food storage and for everyday cooking, instant beans will make your meal prep, and therefore, your life, much simpler! After all, when you’ve gotta have a bean meal, you want it right now!
Do you have a cookbook you can recommend for using thrive life products? I have many cans just sitting cause I’m a bit intimidated!!
Well, your first step is to open one of those cans! I promise you that nothing scary will jump out! LOL
Here’s what I suggest. Open a can of a food that you use in recipes. Corn is an easy one to start with. Make a recipe that calls for corn and just add rehydrated freeze-dried corn in the same measurement as fresh.
You really don’t need a recipe book, just use the recipes you already like and substitute one or two ingredients with freeze-dried. 🙂
Are the red beans available in a larger can? The link says “Pantry Can” which is only 3 1/2 cups of beans or 7 servings.
They have been in the Family Size cans before. If that’s the size you want, then I recommend checking back on the Thrive Life website to see when they are in stock.
Will do, thanks!