Best Tips For Cooking Beans

Beans are a member of the legume family, along with peas and lentils. They are a main staple for a vegetarian diet, and can be used by meat eaters as an alternative protein in recipes. However, because they are a starch-protein combination, they can be difficult for people to digest. One reason being that intestinal bacteria attacks the indigestible fiber that remains in the large intestine, causing gas to form. Another is a lack of proper enzymes needed to break down legumes trisaccharides into simple sugars. There are, however, a few things the home cook can do to help make beans easier to digest.

Why bother? Because according to Traditional Chinese medicine, beans strengthen the kidney-adrenal function, which governs balanced sexual activity and allows for proper growth of the physical body and brain. So, break out those dried beans that have been gathering dust on your shelf and cook up a batch for dinner. You can always freeze the leftovers for another day.

Tips For Preparing Beans, next

1 of 3

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Teresa C.

12:12AM PST on Nov 7, 2012

Thank you for going into detail on how to cook the beans--and why.
I love beans but never cook them because mine were always too bland.

November 7
send a green star

Shalvah L.

3:23AM PDT on Oct 30, 2012

Thank you for the information!

October 30
send a green star

Anna B.

6:17AM PDT on Nov 4, 2011

I love beans especially this time of year when the weather turns colder. Thank you for the informative article.

November 4
send a green star

Sheila Swan L.

9:06AM PDT on Jun 17, 2011

And they have great fiber, vitamins and can taste delicious too!

June 17
send a green star

Mel H.

8:00AM PDT on Jun 17, 2011

Beans were the staple foods back in the great depression.
Is it any wonder we're turning back to beans these days in our diets??!!

r-e-c-e-s-s-i-o-n.....

Low cost, healthy eating... ;-)

George S.

6:10AM PDT on Jun 17, 2011

Beans need to be cooked properly so people won't hear you coming. They taught us in the Army how to sneak up on the enemy. It was difficult to for a contingent of over 1,000 infantry soldiers to sneak up on anyone after they just had a plate of beans. Now I know why...Great article. Now someone should send it to the Joint Chiefs of Staff !

Nita O.

3:00AM PDT on Apr 11, 2011

Thank you...