How-to cook beans in a rice cooker. A simple no-fuss method to cook any amount of dried beans, perfect for the freezer, and easy on the stomach without any bean bloat!
O beans! What to do with those big bags of dried beans or stock-ups from the bulk bins? Do you find yourself with a bean abundance, wanting to make batches of hummus, snacks, burgers, soup, but those bad boys are dried and hard! WHAT DO YOU DO!? This post is long overdue, as I get asked in almost every beany post, just how do I cook my dried beans from scratch. Sometimes I'll just go with my lazy tendencies and use canned, but a can of beans is just not enough for most things! Now, how do we go from the photo above to this...
It's rather simple and much easier than you think. Plus, using a rice cooker is where it's at! Much quicker than a slow cooker, and less messy and finicky than on the stove. And maybe my favorite thing about making them this way is the "de-bloat"/tummy-easing technique you can use. I've tried this same technique on the stove top, but it was not as effective as using a longer cooking method (but shorter time than a slow cooker). I use my rice cooker mostly, not for rice, but beans. I like to prep huge batches of hummus for the week and then make enough for another 2 weeks which I freeze in the freezer. When I'm making burgers, I like to make not just a small batch, but a big batch, again, to freeze.
So let me take you through my easy bean process. I will be showing you how to cook only 1 cup of dried chickpeas, which yields only 3 cups cooked, so just double or triple the quantities (and change the bean) depending on your needs (and size of your rice cooker). And since the beans are being thoroughly socked and cooked, no need to worry about any bean deaths!
How-To Cook Beans In A Rice Cooker
How-To Cook Beans In A Rice Cooker
How-to cook beans in a rice cooker. A simple no-fuss method to cook any amount of dried beans, perfect for the freezer, and easy on the stomach without any bean bloat!
- Cook Time: 90 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Yield: 3 Cups 1x
- Category: How-To
- Cuisine: American
Instructions
- Overnight, soak your dried beans in the rice cooker (unplugged and turned off) you will be using with 3 cups of filtered water.
- In the morning, drain and rinse the hydrated beans, put them back in the rice cooker, and add 4 cups of filtered water, along with 1 bay leaf.
- Turn the rice cooker on for one cycle. When the rice cooker beeps that it's finished, check the water level (you may need to add a bit more, but you should be fine if the beans are still covered), and run for one more cycle (you can end this cycle before it beeps, about half way if need be).
- Then simply remove the bay leaf, drain, and rinse your cooked beans one more time and use for whatever you need those beans for!
Notes
DO NOT add salt to the beans at any time during this cooking process, otherwise they will remain hard and not cook.
Ta-Daa! So what's up with the bay leaf? By cooking beans with a bay leaf, you break down the hard to digest oligosaccharides in them, giving your body an easier time breaking them down during digestion with the anti-oligosaccharides enzyme. Not only can you use a bay leaf, but you can also use 1 tsp of cumin, 2 tsp of epazote leaves, or 2 inches of kombu (a sea vegetable). I like the bay leaf though as the flavor is light and earthy and smells fantastic! With the overnight soaking and fully cooking the beans with a bay leaf, you will be eating a bounty of beans like never before and without the rough tummy effects!
That's my easy way to cook my dried beans! No need to worry about BPA-lined cans of sodium soaked sadness, long hours in a slow cooker, or the possibility of pots boiling over (and bean-bloat!). Another little surprise you may enjoy. If you aren't a fan of the skins of beans (specifically chickpeas), the skins mostly all come off during the process and if some remain, they can be easily removed.
So tell me:
+ How do you like to cook your dried beans?
+ Do you use a specific de-bloating method?
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Phill
This worked perfectly for me! Will make them this way again!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo! Awesome to hear!
Brooklyn
This was PERFECT! The bay leaf is a game-changer!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? The method is fool-proof!
Beth
We've been using your method now for years when we meal prep a big batch every few weeks! Thanks!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Love to hear that! Awesome!
Julian
I'm giving this a try right now. Already soaked the beans for a night, but I might have stuffed too much into it. Soaked chickpeas are like 3 times as big so I hope things work out right. I'm using the white rice setting for anyone else who cares.
This is 5 cups of soaked chickpeas and roughly 6.5 cups of water. I really hope it doesn't spill over.
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Wow, what size cooker are you using??
Jeffry
used your method now many times for chickpeas and they came out perfectly each time...wanting to ask if this method also applies to dry green peas? and if yes, after I make the green peas in the rice cooker are green peas able to be stored in the freezer? thank you in advance for any information you can pass along...
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
As written in the blog post, this method is perfect for any dried bean or legume.
Sarah
I love this recipe, thank you for sharing it! I want to share my experience in case it helps anyone else, since there are so many types of beans and types of rice cookers.
I've made it twice now with black beans. I usually forget to soak the day before, so I'll soak them in the morning and about 8 hours later I'll start them cooking. I have a very basic Aroma rice cooker and I use the white rice setting. It doesn't ever finish one cycle, but I think it takes about two hours to get tender but not mushy beans. Otherwise, I'm following the recipe exactly and they turn out delicious!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks for sharing!
Kathy
I know this is four years old, but I came across it and so glad I did. The beans came out great. The garbanzos were extra creamy with this method. Thanks!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Awesome! This is still and will always be my favorite go-to method!
Anne
This has become my favorite method of cooking my dried beans!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's the best way!
Sudharshana Mahaletchumy
Thank you so much for your guidance. Means alot to a new vegan!
★★★★★
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Glad it helps!
Miriam
I've stopped buying canned beans & chickpeas, but I miss them. I'm used to cooking on gas, but since I've moved I'm having to cook my meals on electrical plates and I just can't seem to not have the water boil over.
So I googled to see if I could find a tutorial on how to cook beans in a rice cooker (as I'd seen suggested before by someone, but with no clear instructions).
This definitely helps.
I have no (expensive) pressure cooker, so I'll settle for this instead.
Thanks for the bonus info (i.e. bay leaf, kombu, etc., ... ). I knew about bay leaf as my mother always used one whenever she cooked lentils/chickpeas . I didn't know about the other options (except for kombu, I've seen it mentioned once, but had completely forgotten).
So it's nice to have that information on hand.
Thanks for making the process less daunting and easier for the rest of us.
Cheers!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
Jenni
Such great information!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Such a great comment!
Katrin Nuernberger
Bean bloat is the only reason I have stopped making them! Problem solved...
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think so!
Sarah
I have ever known about using rice cooker to cook beans but I don't know how to cook. The instruction is very good for me. It's very suprised me that using a bay leaf to make beans tasty. I need to try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you find it helpful!
Kelly
I have a programmable rice cooker with a variety of settings, so how long is a "cycle" for you? Since my rice cooker is always out, and the slow cooker isn't, I would like to give this a try.
I haven't heard of using bay when cooking beans--I tend to use kombu.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Mine just has a Cook/Warm button and an off button. So I just click cook, once, then again when it beeps!
Deborah Davis
Hi Rebecca,
Unpleasant bean bloat and gassiness is a problem that really needs to be addressed so I am so glad you shared your techniques with us. I usually use kombu when cooking beans.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Kombu is great to use too!
Emily
I would never have thought of cooking beans in a rice cooker but now it seems like such an obviously great idea!! The beans look like they turn out just perfect!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They do turn out pretty perfect! Super easy!
Marlynn @ UrbanBlissLife
I have never thought to cook beans in a rice cooker, but it is SO smart and makes total sense! I always do regular ol' stove top method. I'll have to try this one, for sure. Thanks so much for this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This is so much easier!
Erin
I LOVE my rice cooker but I have never cooked dried beans in it. Love this idea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Just another reason to love it more!
Jerry
Yet another awesome use for my rice cooker! I'll be giving this a try very soon.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic! Thanks Jerry!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow
I don't have a rice cooker, but I just bought an Instant Pot, which can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker or rice cooker. I am going to have to try to use it for this recipe/tip on the rice cooker setting. Great idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! I hear the instant pot is great!
Christie
Brilliant! I love this idea. My rice cooker just died Friday night in the middle of cooking brown rice. Now I have even more reason to buy a new one!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O no!!! :O Yes! Go get another one!!! Haha, maybe it was just sick of all the rice 😉
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
Very cool. I've never thought of cooking them that way.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So easy!
CJ Huang
I didn't know about the bay leaf! It sounds like a great way to further prevent bean bloat! I usually just soak the beans in whey/water overnight, and that works pretty well too.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, you always have to soak them, but adding the bay leaf to cooking too is even better.
Amanda @The Kolb Corner
What a great idea! I never would have thought about using a rice cooker to cook the beans.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is a fantastic way to make them!
Moroccan Mom
I will sure be trying this. awesome find!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great! Let me know how it works for you!
Miz Helen
What a great idea, I will sure be trying this.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you do!!
Hannah@SeeingtheLovely
I've never heard of cooking beans in a rice cooker, what a great idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It works perfectly!
Marilyn Lesniak
I have never used a rice cooker. This recipe may make me change my mind!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
If you get one, make sure to try this method!
Joanna @mumbalance
I tend to cook my beans in a giant stock pot, which my husband bought years ago. It's so big I don't have to worry about any spills!
I had it in my mind that slow cookers and rice cookers are no good for cooking beans. I don't know why...
We actually have a redundant rice cooker (again something my husband bought). It's only ever been used twice, as I find it easier to cook small quantities of rice on the stove. We may well use it for beans now!
Great tip with the bay leaf!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Give it a try! And yes! Always include a bay leaf!
Lindsay
Thanks for this post! My husband really wants to get a rice cooker, but I didn't want to because I figured the only thing we could use it for is rice! I think I'll reconsider 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No! You can cook any grain, beans, steam and cook veggies, meats, fish!
Jessica
Great post. I just got a pressure cooker and am slowly learning to use it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I've never used one!
Teri@The Freshman Cook
I just love this idea! I am a lover of beans, but not the canned ones. Can't wait to try this! Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Great! I hope you enjoy this method!
MommaDJane
I had no idea. I've only ever used our rice cooker for rice, which we do weekly. I would love to try red beans in it this weekend.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Go for it!
Amanda
Now I can say I will actually be brave enough to try cooking these kind of beans 🙂 Rebecca, you just changed my life. Thanks for sharing your wealth of information 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's so easy!!! No fuss, just remember to soak the night before and BAM!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
Rebecca, this is brilliant! LOL The simplest solutions sometimes escape me! LOL I usually soak my beans overnight, this week my menu schedule got shuffled and I needed the beans that evening, they were still in the bag, I boiled them, it was the first time for me. I never thought about the crock pot and my rice steamer quit on us-overuse I assume! But I will definitely keep the crock pot in mind for the next time! Thanks. BTW, those garbanzo beans look delish!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
For when we find ourselves in beany conundrums! Haha!
Julia
This is a revelation! I love my rice cooker, and feel much better about beans cooked this way. The slow cooker doesn't get hot enough to cook them safely.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Rice cooker beans for the win!
Joybee
Great tip. I have a rice cooker with a slow cooker function and that's what I usually use for beans but I'll have to try this. Adding the bay leaf is a great tip too. I've never heard of it. The cumin would be great for beans to use in chili.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The bay leaf is the best!
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com
Perfect timing! I received a rice cooker for Christmas AND a goal of mine is to incorporate more beans in my life! Thanks, Rebecca. This I must try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Perfect!!!! Give it a try, cook all the beans!!! It really is the best way I've found to do it!
Charlotte
i have to say I don't actually own a rice cooker but this seems like a pretty cool hack if I did - seems a lot more simpler!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Easy and guaranteed!
Jenette
I never thought to use the rice cooker! Brilliant! I'll try it out this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It will be your new favorite way!
Sherry@savvyapron
I never thought of beans in the rice cooker. I use my rice cooker all the time. Thanks
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Now you have another use!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Rebecca what are you doing to me? 🙂
I only just got my spiralizer last Christmas, and I've now asked for a slow cooker for this Christmas. And now I'm going to have to ask for a rice cooker for Christmas 2017!! 😆
You make things so simple when it comes to cooking. I love it! 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha! I just love all my kitchen toys 😛 Slow but steady, you'll get them all too 😉
Thank you Neil!
The Vegan 8
Thank you so much for sharing girl! I have a rice cooker and absolutely love it, but have never made beans in it, great idea!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Woohoo!!! Time to get bean cooking!
Farrah
Oh hecks yes! Thank you for this! My crockpot is currently chillin' in WV, but there is (thankfully) a rice cooker at my parents' house! <3 Pinned!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Score!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
Such a cool way to cook beans - they typically kill my stomach but now I'm really curious - and I love chickpeas 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Go with the bay leaf!!!
Liz
Such a great trick! I always take the lazy route and use canned beans, but I love this easy alternative!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha! Yes! But with the amount of hummus I need....bulk cooking is the only option!
Jess @hellotofit
Wow! I've never used the rice cooker to make anything but rice...great post!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Rice cookers are just like slow cookers, they can do it all! Magic!
Nadia
I never thought you could use a rice maker to cook beans. It would help if I had one though 😛 I always used to use canned beans but now I'm a soaker.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Get a rice cooker 😉 Hahahaha! Just more fun toys to have in the kitchen!
Lucie
Such a great tip Rebecca! I love the de-bloating factor 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, right? To good health 😉
genevieve @ gratitude & greens
I love soaking my beans overnight so they take less time to cook! I don't have a rice cooker but if I did this is probably how I would make them 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I'm so surprised you don't have one!!!??? :O
Rebecca
I am definitely going to try this. I usually use a crock pot, but I can never get the cooking time quite right. Well, actually I usually use canned beans because I forget to cook the beans ahead of time. :P. Also, thanks for the great tip about the bay leaf. I guess I'll need to stock up on more of those.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha! I "forget" too sometimes 😉
The bay leaf is magic!! It helps me so much!
Dr. Jennifer Weinberg MD MPH | Simple Pure Whole Wellness
Simple and time-saving tips are always appreciated! I don't have a rice cooker but this would be a consideration to get one. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
If you have room for one, get it!
Vicky @ Avocado Pesto
This is totally brilliant! LOOVE the idea of cooking dried beans in the rice cooker! Trying this ASAP!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It works like a charm!
Linda @ Veganosity
This is such an informative post. I don't have a rice cooker, but if I did I'd make more beans. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha! Time for a new toy 😉
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
This might be life changing... going to go soak some beans now and try this out!! Can't wait to eat some homemade hummus!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Do it!!! And you tummy will thank you 😉
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday
Such a neat trick! Love the tip about the bay leaf, too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are my life savor!
Raia
Wish I would've known this in college! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No more wasting money on the canned!
Evi @ greenevi
That is interesting!
I didn't know you can do this.
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Little magic tricks 😉
Gluten Free With Emily
I'm always telling people how to easy it is to cook beans in a rice cooker, I need to send them to this post!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? It's a gem!
Erin - Suburban Simplicity
We recently purchased a rice cooker - I'd love to try this idea! I've heard you can do more than just rice. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yea! You can cook a lot in there! Just like the slow cooker, there are tons of possibilities!
Michelle @My Gluten-free Kitchen
So funny because I just got rid of our rice cooker because I just never used it! Now I'm kicking myself because this would have been a great use for it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahaha! I feel like just calling my a bean cooker, since that's really all I make in it!
Charlene Asay
This is such a great idea. I have never thought of it. Pinning for later.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Works like a charm!
Chellie
Can't wait to try this! I ALWAYS use my slow cooker. easy, hands off. I'm trying this next. Have you experimented with different types of beans? Does the length of time or number of cycles vary depending on the bean? I get mine from a local farmer. Navy, Black, Pinto, Cranberry, Kidney.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! I said I cook all my beans this way. Two cook cycles does it always. You might need only one for black beans or black eyed peas though.
Rebecca
This is great timing - I got a rice cooker for Christmas and have been researching new recipes. We also are trying to get healthier (sigh) at our house so this came at just the right time. Thanks for sharing and I'm going to conquer those bags of rice right now !!!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Have fun! There are tons of things you can do with the rice cooker!!
Laura
I love buying dried beans instead of canned and cooking up a big batch at a time. I don't have a rice cooker to use, but I do mine in a big bean crock, and they come out beautifully!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Beans are a bulk must! That's one thing that really does save money!
Erin @ Stay At Home Yogi
Yay, I learned something new! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, great!
June
I put bay leaf in my beans also, but I thought it was only for flavor...thanks for the information. I usually cook pinto, red or lima beans and I season them with chopped onion, garlic, celery and bell pepper... New Orleans style beans.
Using a rice cooker is a great idea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Helps with the breakdown!!
Mary-the boondocks blog
I love making bean salads, This is definetey a good tip to use. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! You can make a nice big batch!
janet @ the taste space
Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I never really considered this but I imagine each bean has a different time cooking.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Two cycles using does it!
Harriet Emily
This is so cool! I had no idea that it was possible to cook anything other than rice in a rice cooker - I was always too scared to cook anything else in mine lol! I'm definitely going to give this a try and use it to cook some beans. Thank you so much for sharing all of this great information Rebecca! <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Apparently you can steam fish, veggies, everything! I've only ever made grains and beans in mine, but I need to try more!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
Never knew this was possible, such a great idea. Totally trying this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's the best way 😉