Poll: Do You Purchase Dried Beans or Canned Beans?

Do You Cook With Dried Beans or Canned Beans?

March 15, 2010

by POPSUGAR Food 14

Source: Flickr User Emiline220

14 Comments

GummiBears 3 years 8 weeks

Both. Cannellini beans dried are somewhat hard to find in my town.

GlowingMoon 3 years 9 weeks

Dried. It's so much more economical. I just use a slow-cooker with a timer. I cook a batch, and freeze them in two-serving portions.

TADOW 3 years 9 weeks

Both. Dried lentils, but other beans take too long to soak and prep and I never plan my cooking for the week that far in advance.

3 years 10 weeks

Not only do dried beans you cook yourself have so much less sodium in them, they also have infinitely better texture than mushy canned beans. And here's the thing: other than the fact that you have to plan ahead the actual time spent cooking them is next to nothing. You soak and or heat to boiling then you let them sit. You drain and put them in new water with aromatics and you let them sit on a simmer. Virtually effortless! Planning. Lead time. Cheaper, healthier, better beans.

Spectra 3 years 10 weeks

I use both. The dried ones are definitely cheaper and seem to have a better texture, but you can't beat the canned ones for being super easy if you're in a hurry.

fuzzles 3 years 10 weeks

I much prefer dried, but for convenience I generally use canned.

AlexisSF 3 years 10 weeks

canned. i'm lazy;)

Soniabonya 3 years 10 weeks

dried. canned beans have a different flavor and are too salty for me.

CoconutPie 3 years 10 weeks

Both.

ellbeecee 3 years 10 weeks

Once or twice a month I make these 90 minute beans - http://thepauperedchef.com/2009/06/90-minute-no-soak-beans.html - and freeze them in 1-cup portions. It's easy - I've never gotten mushy beans from it - and then I them ready to pull out of the freezer and add dishes as needed. I do still keep some canned beans on hand though, just in case they're needed.

partysugar 3 years 10 weeks

I cook with both!

POPSUGAR Food 3 years 10 weeks

Fitsugar, I'm with you; however, I think I should start cooking with dried beans in the future, because they're simply more economical. A good place to start might be recipes that don't require soaking beans at all, like Party's crockpot chili.