Dried beans vs. canned beans.

[livinginphotographs]

I'm trying to make sure I get enough iron in my diet, so I started thinking about this.

I eat canned kidney beans and/or baked beans quite a few times a week for dinner. My brother gave me a good phrase to live by: "The easier it is to cook, the more crap it has in it," and with that said, I'm wondering if I should start buying dried beans instead of cans.

Anyway, I read on the vegsource FAQ site that a good source of iron is "dried beans." Do they mean specifically dried beans, or just beans in general?

[Maru Kitteh]

1. Just turn the can around and look at the ingredients

There's a little bit of difference between the different brands. Buy beans without or with less added sugar and the shortest ingredient list.

Otherwise, no worries I would say. Dried beans are cheaper, but canned ones are much more convenient and usually have very few additives. I generally used canned for most things and dried for Sunday soups and stews.

Since they are the same beans I would think they would both have the same nutrients. Do you take a multi-vitamin and/or eat green veggies like Broccoli, Romaine, etc? 'Cause if you do I wouldn't sweat the iron too much unless your doctor has said you're deficient.

Just my two cents. :7

[livinginphotographs]

2. The cans really don't have anything worrisome in them...

Just a bunch of stuff like water, salt, etc. probably just to act as preservatives. The fact that dried are cheaper is tempting, but I really don't have time to boil them and then soak them for eight hours to feed just myself.

Probably nothing to worry about, just thinking about it. Thanks!

[livetohike]

3. Using canned beans shouldn't be a problem

You can find iron in spinach, swiss Chard, raisins, etc. A baked potato with the skin on is a good source of iron too.

As a vegetarian on and off for the past 35 years, and a female, I have had to take iron supplements due to anemia.

If you have a crock pot, just soak the beans over night, put them in the crock pot in the morning and they will be done when you are ready for dinner.

[LeftyMom]

4. The easiest way to make dried beans

is to make several meals worth of them in a crock pot, then freeze them in thier juice. An earth balance tub holds about a can's worth. That way all you have to do is thaw what you need.

When money isn't real tight, I prefer canned. All of the ones I buy are just water, salt and beans.

[CrispyQ]

5. If you have a pressure cooker, soaked beans cook in minutes.

Kidney's in about 7-8 minutes, garbanzos in 16-18 minutes. I wouldn't be without my pressure cookers. I love them! Yes, I have two.

IMO, fresh cooked beans are so much more tasty than canned, but then, I'm very sensitive to salt.

If you don't have a pc, LeftyMom's advice is good.

[Stuckinthebush]

6. A little more info please....

We don't have a pressure cooker, but would buy one if they aren't too expensive.

The hydration of dried beans has always been difficult for me. They never seem to turn out right, and are always crunchy no matter how long I soak them.

Are you saying that you put the dried beans straight in the water in a pressure cooker, and then set it to cook for about 8 minutes, or are you saying that you hydrate them for a few hours first?

Thanks!

[CrispyQ]

7. I soak my beans overnight in water, drain the water,

then add about 1/2 cup water & the beans to the pc & cook. Soaked, it takes about the time I mentioned above. You can cook them without soaking, but it will take considerably more time. I get nice soft beans.

As for pc's, I think you can find some for around $70. I spent quite a bit on a Kuhn-Rikon duo set -- I got two pans, a 5.5 qt & a 2.5 qt & one pressure cooker lid & one glass lid. The duo has been fantastic! The small pan is perfect for beans & the big one is good for bean soups.

Other things I've cooked in a pc are polenta (takes about 5 minutes plus a 10 minute cool down) rice (I put the rice & some water in a ceramic heat proof crock with a lid, put water in the pc, put the crock in the pc & cook). The rice comes out perfect every time. I don't like artichokes, but they cook very quickly in a pc, as do lots of other veggies. Mashed potatoes? Peel them, quarter them, cook in a pc for about 6 minutes & mash.

My pc is definitely one of my best kitchen purchases. I use it 2-3 times a week. If you get one & have questions, feel free to message me. I'm happy to give you hints.

http://www.candochefs.com/kuhnrikonduopressurecookerset.html

[Stuckinthebush]

9. Thanks!

We'll look into the purchase of a pressure cooker and start trying the dried bean route.

[RebelOne]

11. Check out these pressure cookers.

There's one on sale for $63.

http://www.qvc.com/asp/frameset.asp?class=1125&tmp=hp&cont=mhcd

[Maru Kitteh]

10. I have two pressure cookers also and I always use the quick soak method

I boil the beans for 2-3 minutes, let them sit for one hour, throw them in the cooker and VOILA! 3 to 9 minutes later I have the best beans ever. I was never any good at cooking them via the conventional method but I LOVE them from the pressure cooker.

My first pressure cooker, which I still use cost me $17. The second one was a little bit more at $50 but you couldn't pry them out of my hands without a court order and a swat team.

[Warpy]

8. I live at high altitude

and beans just don't get DONE unless I haul out the pressure cooker.

Canned beans are what I use when I don't have time to pressure cook a mess of beans and I'm out of the ones I've frozen. I just pay attention to the labels to make sure I'm not getting a lot of salt, sugar, and other things I don't particularly want.

On edit: If you have access to a herb called EPAZOTE, try cooking a sprig of it with that next batch of beans. The herb stinks out loud (some people think it smells like gasoline), but it adds an amazing layer of flavor to beans and it also cuts down on bean farts.

[smurfygirl]

12. eat what is easy for you

if you find it difficult to cook beans then buy canned and only cook when you have the time. This way you will always get your intake of beans. If something is easy to do stick with it.