Why should I soak beans before cooking?

Soaking beans before cooking helps them cook faster and become softer.

Imagine you have a group of hard little rocks, they’re like dried beans. If you try to boil them right away, it’s like trying to melt those rocks in hot water. It takes a long time, and even then, they might still feel gritty inside.

But if you let them sit in water for a while, like giving them a little bath before the big cook-off, they start to get soaked and swollen. This means they’re easier to cook because the water has already started working on them, making them softer and ready to be cooked quickly.

Think of soaking beans like taking a nap before playing. After a good rest, you're more energized and ready for fun, just like beans are more ready for cooking after a soak!

Soaking also helps remove some of the gas-causing stuff in beans, which means you might not feel as tummy-full afterward. It's like giving your beans a little clean-up before they go to the party!