‘Power Soak’ Beans For Faster Cooking

We’ve discussed the old soak beans for 24-hours trick to alleviate excess gas, but if you don’t have a whole day to wait before you start cooking your bean dish, this method from the folks at Bon Appetit magazine can save you time. Just put your beans in a pot, cover with water, bring them to a boil and keep them there for two minutes, and set aside.

This “power soak” method, as they call it, is essentially just pre-boiling, and once you’ve finished the two-minute boil, you let the beans stand for about one hour. In that time, some of the more complex sugars that may contribute to gastrointestinal distress after eating, break down a bit. After the hour’s rest, your beans will be ready to use in any recipe, as though it had been soaking for hours.

Have you tried this “power soak” pre-boiling method before, or do you have a different preferred method? Share your tips in the comments below.

The Faster Way to Soak Beans for Cooking [Bon Appetit]