Reply #15: That's pretty much what my grandmother used to say

[wryter2000]

The beans cooked all day. I don't think they were cooked when they went into the oven.

She was born before 1900, so I imagine she was talking about a wood stove. I think I'll precook the beans.

When I cook pinto beans, I add salt, a piece of bacon or salt pork, and onions at the beginning of cooking. I've heard that the beans won't cook if you put anything but beans and water in, but that doesn't seem to be the case for me.

Someone here said that beans do get old eventually and then they won't soften. That seemed to happen with some pintos I had around for a long, long time.