[Pocket Pony]

We went to see our friends last night for dinner. She made a lovely white bean soup that tasted divine. But, ummmmm....based on how our tummies felt when we got home and all night long and this morning, she didn't soak the beans. Please, people, if you are going to make bean soup, soak the beans - at least 4 hours, but longer if you can!!!!! Your tummy and your nose and your housemates will thank you.

That is all.

[ezduzit]

You are absolutely right!!!

And yet, despite my other problems, I can put away red beans and rice with narry a whisper of discontent from my g.i. tract. Go figure!

[Blue Yonder]

We're good friends with a hilarious man who used to be a cook for a penitentiary. According to him, first you must soak and drain beans. This we all know.

Second, when cooking beans, add carrots to the pot. Do not, however, eat them in the final product. He says it decreases the stink factor of digested beans dramatically. (Maybe a poor man's version of Beano?) As he says, there's no place you LESS want much bean-related gas than from a bunch of stinky dudes confined together in a jail. That's his story, and I'm sticking to it too!

[kcmel]

I add about a tsp of baking soda while I soak. That really helps. My beans are gas-free! But my mom made a big pot over x-mas, OMG I almost died. It took almost 2 days to recover!

[msj]

You don't have to soak lentils for lentil soup. I used to do it and then read the package, and it said you do not have to soak them. At least the brand I buy has that on it's package.

[Bluey]

Grandma's bean cooking always meant:

Clean the beans from any rocks.
Soak for several hours.
Cook slowly ... with a wooden spoon in the pot, sticking out.
That is so the f...s would have something to crawl up and leave.

That is how we did it.

[snbess]

Thank you for the no-fart tips. You have no idea how happy I will be if these work!

[yaya]

You are absolutely right!!!

And yet, despite my other problems, I can put away red beans and rice with narry a whisper of discontent from my g.i. tract. Go figure!

That's because of the Monday tradition. Monday was wash day before machines, so red beans could be soaking and cooking maintenance-free while the laundry was being done.

[Roxyllsk]

I soak mine overnight, rinse really well, then cook them in the crockpot on high until tender. No more exploded beans !

I use beans a lot, so prepare them in batches then bag and freeze the extra - usually 1 cup prepared beans to the bag.

And heck, farts are pretty funny no matter how old you are.

:-)

[Bacardi1]

You don't have to soak lentils for lentil soup. I used to do it and then read the package, and it said you do not have to soak them. At least the brand I buy has that on it's package.

That's correct - no soaking required for lentils. In fact, if you soak them, 9 times out of 10 they'll quickly turn to mush when cooked.

There's also no need to soak split peas before cooking either. Whole dried peas - yes; split - no.

[SmartAlex]

I presume we are speaking of dry beans? Not canned beans?

[SnicklefritzG]

beans, beans the musical fruit,
the more you eat, the more you toot!

[cyriz's mom]

...
the more you toot, the better you feel
so eat some beans today


That's how it went in my house growing up.

[paulaedwina]

Beans beans they're good for the heart.
The more you eat the more you'll fart.
The more you fart the better you'll feel.
You must have beans with every meal!

Paula

[SmartAlex]

I have garden grown black beans simmering on the stove right now. And yes, I did soak them over night

[lovey1121]

Beans beans they're good for the heart.
The more you eat the more you'll fart.
The more you fart the better you'll feel.
You must have beans with every meal!

Paula

This should make an appearance in the "Childhood songs that pop into your head" thread

[twotrudoc]

Let every bean be heard!!!

[danceronice]

Um..you can get a lot worse than gas from unsoaked kidney beans if they don't get cooked all the way through. As in very sick, potentially dead, if they're really raw.

About the only time you can cheat with white beans is if you're cooking them in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Otherwise, SOAK.

[Pocket Pony]

About the only time you can cheat with white beans is if you're cooking them in a slow cooker or pressure cooker. Otherwise, SOAK.

That's what she did last night (white beans) . . . and it didn't work!

[Foxtrot's]

I've always wondered:

If you eat beans regularly does your stomach get used to them and make it so you don't fart so much? We don't eat them very often, occasionally pea soup, and pay the price.