Why do you soak beans overnite before cooking them?

Question

I bought some great northern beans to cook this morning, but was told I was supposed to soak them 1st. Why? Cant I just throw them in the water and boil them with some ham etc... for a couple hours, or does soaking them overnite do something?

Answer 1

Water makes them expand more and more tender. Try it without soaking and you will notice the difference.

Answer 2

We soak because, as the beans cook, they absorb liquid and expand. If we cook the dried beans without soaking, they expand faster than their skin can accommodate. The skin bursts, and the dish looks mushy. Soaking allows the skin to soften and expand. When the beans are cooked, they retain their integrity.

When soaking, you can use the overnight-soaking method, or the quick-soak method. Both will provide the same results -- it just depends on what kind of time you have.

Quick-soak method: Cover beans with three inches of water in a stockpot, bring water to a boil and turn off heat. Let beans soak for one hour, drain soaking liquid, refill with fresh water and proceed with cooking until done.

Answer 3

Soaking beans allows them to slowly absorb the moisture they need to cook evenly. Soaking keeps the beans from splitting open or from the having the outside shell fall apart while the middle is still hard. For many people, eating beans causes intestinal discomfort, or gas because it is difficult to digest complex sugars in beans The main reasons for soaking dried beans is to soften and return moisture to them, and to break down the oligosaccharides (the indigestible sugars that cause gas). The hardest class of beans are also troublesome for digestion and soaking helps breakdown these types.

Another reason to soak beans is that it maximizes their nutritional benefit which is important. When beans aren't soak ed it means longer cooking times before they become soft enough to eat. The longer the cooking times the more proteins, vitamins and minerals are destroyed in the heat - all the good things they we wanted when we selected the beans in the first place.

The longer soaking time is recommended to allow a greater amount of sugar to dissolve, thus helping the beans to be more easily digested. Always discard the soaking water.

Lastly we want to soak beans because it is economical, so listen up all you frugal shoppers. Beans are protein, and pound for pound they are equal to a good cut of meat, but cost only a few pennies. As stated above, the longer you have to cook beans the more valuable protein will be destroyed and this can impact the nutritional needs of your family, especially if you do not serve protein in other forms to compensate.

Also on the subject of dollar stretching if you are cooking those beans longer than necessary by not soaking first then you are watching your energy dollars go up in smoke - well make that steam - by using more natural gas, electricity or propane fuel in cooking.

Answer 4

Soaking them softens them as they absorb the water, and shortens cooking time- It is even a good idea to move them around in the bowl of water too just before going to bed. I find doing this makes sure they are all evenly soaked. It is better to soak them over night if you want them in the morning or for preparing for lunch. If you want them night time you can soak them early morning. If you don't soak them in water, you will be forever boiling them in water till cooked and they will still be hard.

Answer 5

Soaking them cleans them and softens them to make the cooking process a little more quicker. Make sure after you have soaked them to throw that water out and use new water. That water they soaked in has all the dirt in it.

Answer 6

It is to soften them. Alternate method. Place them in a pot of water. Bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and cover. Let it sit an hour, then drain and cook as per directions.

Answer 7

soaking them makes them tender, I've put them to soak early in the morning and cooked them for supper,( about 8hrs.) And by the way that sound yummy, it be awhile since I had beans and ham.

Answer 8

soaking them softens them making them cook quickly. If you dont soak them you would have to boil them for hours before they're completely cooked. Bon apetit!

Answer 9

Its just cleans them yes you can soak for about an hour then cook them

Answer 10

soaking beans overnite makes it easy to cook next day.it boils easily.

Answer 11

Not only will they not ccok well but they will absorb all the moisture in your soup if you do not soak them first. You will end up with a crunchy bean pate'