How to Cook Dried Beans in the Instant Pot (Spoonie-Friendly Method)
No more boiling over. No more guesswork.
Here’s how to cook dried beans in the Instant Pot the easy way. With soaking tips, cooking times, and a low-energy approach.
As a lover of beans, living on a mostly plant-based diet, I used to buy tinned beans all the time. Lots and lots of them. Until I got my Instant Pot. Total game changer. Because nothing could be easier than cooking dried beans in the Instant Pot.
I still remember my first (and last) time cooking dried beans from scratch on the hob. I’d done all the right things. Soaked the beans overnight. Used my largest pot, and ample water.
But no sooner had it come to a boil than it turned into a roiling, foaming mass, bubbling over and leaving me with a sticky sea of bean broth to clean up.
I was not amused.
Reasons to Cook Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
With the Instant Pot, cooking dried beans becomes a low-effort process rather than a stressful gamble. It’s by far the easiest and most reliable way to cook beans from scratch and get perfect results every time.
Here’s a list of key advantages:
- No babysitting a pot on the hob
- No boiling over, no messes to clean
- Great taste and texture every time
- Faster than traditional stovetop methods
- Cheaper than tinned beans
- Full control over salt and other ingredients
- Ideal for batch cooking and freezing
- Low-energy, spoonie-friendly cooking
- Can be cooked without soaking when needed
- Avoids additives found in some tinned beans
- No worries about possibly hazardous tin linings
Do You Really Need to Soak Beans?
To soak or not to soak, that’s the question. But the answer is not as straightforward as you might think.
The Short Answer
You can skip soaking, but… I strongly recommend you don’t.
Why it’s Best to Soak Your Beans
Ever heard of the gas tax?
Many of us Spoonies (myself included) are dealing with digestive issues. Raw beans contain oligosaccharides which can cause digestive discomfort. Soaking your beans and discarding the water can significantly reduce bloating.
And if you think that’s the only reason to soak your beans, think again. Here’s what soaking also does: It shortens cooking time (which is better for our planet and your wallet), and it ensures your beans cook more evenly.
The Spoonie-Friendly Way to Cook Beans
TLDR? Skip to the Printable Recipe Card
The Basic Version
Having a bad day but still want to cook beans? Skip to the No Spoons Left Version
Step 1: Soak your beans
I typically soak my beans overnight—and it’s actually very low-effort: I simply dump one or two cups of beans in my Instant Pot insert, add water, and leave it to soak while I sleep.
Is it The Best Soaking Method?
Nope. But it’s what works for me. No need to overcomplicate things.
Step 2: Drain and rinse
The next day (not the next morning, but usually somewhere around noon) I drain and rinse my beans. Done.
No picking through and discarding shrivelled looking ones. I don’t need perfection. I just need food.
Step3: Add to Instant Pot
Plunk the beans back into the Instant Pot, add ample water. Ratio? What ratio? Who cares? I simply make sure to truly drown the beans. Works for me. Though if you’re feeling insecure, the standard advice is to use three cups of water for every cup of beans.
Step 4: Cook
Cook on high pressure for the amount of time your beans need (table below), and allow for a full natural release.
Strictly no babysitting.
Step 5: Store
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. (But honestly, I’ve had them in the fridge for a week and they were still fine, so you might be able to store them in the fridge for longer—under the right circumstances.)
Cooking Times for Different Beans
This table shows approximate Instant Pot cooking times for dried beans, based on a combination of my own tests (for soaked beans) and widely reported timings for unsoaked beans from reliable cooking sources. Actual results can vary slightly depending on bean age, soaking time, and pressure cooker model.
| Type of bean | Soaked | Not soaked |
| Chickpeas | 20-22 min | 40-45 min |
| Navy beans | 12-14 min | 20-25 min |
| Pinto beans | 10-12 min | 25-30 min |
| Kidney beans | 10-12 min | 25-30 min |
| Black beans | 10-12 min | 20-27 min |
This Instant Pot bean cooking times guide is particularly useful for meal prep, batch cooking, and low-effort plant-based cooking.
The No Spoons Left Version
Spoonie life is unpredictable. We all have more than our fair share of days where even getting out of bed is already a major energy drain. Yet we still need to eat.
Cooking Beans When You Have No Energy
When you’re out of spoons but still want beans, you have two options:
- Open a tin (quickest and easiest)
- Cook in the Instant Pot but skip soaking
If you choose to cook without soaking, literally nobody will judge you. In fact, many home cooks habitually skip the soaking when cooking beans in the Instant Pot.
But, as I mentioned earlier, there are some drawbacks: you may get gassy, the beans may not cook as evenly, and the cooking time will be longer.
But you know what? It still beats going hungry.
How to Cook Beans in the Instant Pot
Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
Equipment
- 1 Instant Pot
Ingredients
- 1 cup beans of choice (chickpeas, navy beans, kidney beans, pinto beans, black beans)
- 4 cups water
Instructions
- Soak your beans overnight (preferred method; skip if in a hurry)
- Drain, and rinse well
- Add beans to Instant Pot and cover with plenty of water
- Pressure cook for the specified amount to time
- Allow for natural release
Notes
- Chick peas: 20-22 minutes (soaked) | 40-45 minutes (not soaked)
- White beans: 12-14 minutes (soaked) | 20-25 minutes (not soaked)
- Pinto beans: 10-12 minutes (soaked) | 25-30 minutes (not soaked)
- Kidney beans: 10-12 minutes (soaked) | 25-30 minutes (not soaked)
- Black beans: 10-12 minutes (soaked) | 20-27 minutes (not soaked)
What I Actually Do With Cooked Beans
I love beans. Not only for their nutritious value, low cost, and ease of preparation, but also because of their versatility. There’s so many things you can do with beans. Give them a starring role in a hot meal, use them in soups, dips and spreads, or even bake with them.
Real-Life Uses
Too tired to cook?
Try the Spoonie Meal Hack
Quick dips and spreads
Why not try my Easy Hummus recipe, or this delicious Pumpkin Hummus?
Something a little different
My chickpea-cherry brownies are wicked tasty!
Why I Always Keep Cooked Beans in My Fridge
With so many ways to use beans, it’s only logical to always keep cooked beans in the fridge.
They form the basis of most of my meals, and since I batch-cook them once or twice a week, it greatly reduces effort at lunch- or supper time.
It also helps with decision fatigue: I already have beans, so I only need to figure out what to eat with them. Usually either a grain or potatoes, and loads of veg. But within that framework there’s lots of room for variety, so it never gets boring.
Starting Small
Good food doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Cooking beans in the Instant Pot is both inexpensive and easy.
If you already have an Instant Pot but never tried cooking beans in them yet, why not give it a go? Start with your favourite type of beans, and see how that works for you.
And if you don’t have an Instant Pot? Honestly, I was actually rather reluctant myself at first. But once I started using it, I only wished I’d bought it sooner.
Even if I only ever used it for beans, it would still have been worth it. It saves so much more than time. It saves spoons!
Disclaimer
I’m not a dietitian; this recipe and any nutritional or allergy-related notes are based on personal experience and should not replace professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Beans can be cooked straight from dry. Soaking is optional, but it may improve digestibility, texture, and reduce cooking time.
That depends on what’s most important for you. Dried beans are cheaper and fully customisable, while tinned beans are quicker and more convenient.
Yes. Cooked beans freeze well for up to 3 months. Portion, cool, and freeze for easy low-effort meals later.
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