How To Cook Navy Beans (3 methods)
ABOUT:
Navy Beans are delicious when cooked properly. They're considered to be one of the most complete and healthiest foods. In the 20th Century, they were the main staple food of the U.S. Navy, thus the name "Navy" bean.
To begin, rinse and pick over the beans, removing any dirt or pebbles.
Cover the beans with fresh water and add a teaspoon of salt.
Soak overnight for 12-24 hours.
Stove Top Method
After the beans have soaked overnight, rinse them again. Place the beans in a large stock pot and cover with fresh water. For every 1 pound of beans, add 5 cups of water. Bring the pot to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook gently until the beans are as tender as you like them. Depending on the freshness of the beans, this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Cook until tender. The beans can be drained for the recipe of your choice or saved in their liquid for soups and stews.
Crock Pot Method
Follow the above steps 1-3 for soaking the beans. Next, place the soaked beans in the crock pot and cover with water. Cook on high until the beans are tender, which can take 4-6 hours.
Pressure Cooker Method (Non-Electric)
To cook a whole pound of dried beans, you'll need at least a 6- to 8-quart stove top pressure cooker. Follow steps 1-3 for preparing the beans. Drain the beans and add them to the pressure cooker along with 8 cups of water. Secure the lid according to the instruction manual and turn the flame up to high. Monitor the pot, and when it reaches high pressure, reduce the flame to medium/medium low and start timing the beans.
Natural Release:
When the time is up, turn off the heat. Allow the pot to cool down and release pressure naturally. Consult your instruction manual to determine the appropriate steps for safely opening the pot.
Remove the Lid:
Unlock and remove the lid, tilting it away from you to keep any remaining steam from escaping towards you, and allowing any condensation to drip back into the pot.Use or Store: Your beans are now ready to use or to store.
Store them, covered with their cooking liquid, in the refrigerator up to 3 days, in an air-tight container in the freezer for up to a year.
TIPS FOR BUY NAVY BEANS
When choosing beans, start with good quality beans. Many bags on the supermarket shelves contain beans that are many years old, held in silos until they come to market. Check the date on the package. The fresher the beans, the less time it they take to cook and are much more tender.