How to Cook Black Beans Perfectly
- PREP 5min
- COOK 2hrs
- TOTAL 2hrs 5min
In the recipe below, I’ve shared how to cook black beans on the stove and how to cook them using an Instant Pot (pressure cooker). These black beans are so creamy and taste much better than canned.
You Will Need
1 pound (450g) dried black beans, rinsed, about 2 cups
3 cloves garlic, peeled and gently smashed
1/2 medium onion, sliced through the root end so that the onion doesn’t fall apart
1 bay leaf
1 lime
Salt and fresh ground black pepper
Directions
How to Cook Black Beans on Stove
Add the black beans, garlic cloves, onion half, and bay leaf to a large pot and cover with 3 to 4 inches of water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover, stir the beans, and reduce the heat to keep the beans at a low simmer.
Cook the beans uncovered, stirring occasionally, at a low simmer until the beans are tender, 1 ½ to 2 hours. Add more water to the pot as they cook if you notice the beans look a little dry.
Remove the garlic, onion, and bay leaf. Add the juice from half a lime and season the beans with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon, then add more as needed (beans can take a lot of salt, so be generous).
Serve the beans straight away, or to make the creamy gravy surrounding the beans in our photos, increase the heat to medium and simmer until the liquid around the beans has thickened and sticks to them. Serve with additional lime juice squeezed over the top.
Instant Pot Black Beans
Add rinsed beans, garlic cloves, onion, and bay leaf to a 6-quart pressure cooker (we have an Instant Pot). Add enough water to cover the beans by 1 ½ inches, but do not fill past the “max fill line.”
Add one teaspoon of olive oil (this prevents the beans from foaming).
Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes, then allow the cooker to naturally release for 20 minutes. Then, use the manual release button to remove the remaining pressure.
The beans should be perfectly tender, but if they are still hard (this occasionally happens if your beans are old), you can seal the pressure cooker again and cook for another 10 to 20 minutes.
Remove the onion and bay leaf, then discard them. Add the juice from half a lime and season the beans with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon, then add more as needed (beans can take a lot of salt, so be generous).
Serve straight away, or to make the creamy gravy surrounding the beans in our photos, turn the pressure cooker to Sauté and simmer without the lid until the liquid thickens and sticks to the beans. Serve with additional lime juice as needed.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- How to know when the beans are done: For dips and spreads, cook your black beans until they are very soft, and you can crush them easily with your fingers or a fork. For salads, topping rice and grain bowls, and soups, cook the beans until they are tender but not falling apart.
- Overnight soak: It is not necessary to soak black beans overnight, but some find that an overnight soak helps with digestibility and even cooking. I rarely do this, but it is up to you. To soak black beans, add the dried beans to a big bowl with enough water to cover them by 3 to 4 inches, and then set aside to soak overnight. The beans will triple in size. Drain and use in the recipe above. Cooking time will be slightly less.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates.