Red Beans VS Pink Beans? (cheapest, buy, salt, best)

[yellowsnow]

I love kidney or red beans. I just can't get them to come out red like the canned beans. How do I keep the color? At best mine come out pink!

I prepare them simply. I usually soak in water overnight, change the water a couple times. Then cook till done the next day. I bring them to a full boil then turn down the heat. I don't add anything else till they are done. Even if I buy the dark red beans, they finish pink.

Sometimes I add a couple cans of red beans so at least some of them are the right color!

[cb at sea]

Just use canned.....why not? They have the same nutritional value....and its easy! Why make life more difficult, if you don't have to?

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Just use canned.....why not? They have the same nutritional value....and its easy! Why make life more difficult, if you don't have to?

Because my red beans and rice wouldn't be the same if they weren't slow-cooked, with smoked ham hocks, for hours.


BTW - the kidney beans retain most of their color in my red beans and rice.

[eureka1]

Canned beans are definitely inferior.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Originally Posted by Dirt Grinder

Because my red beans and rice wouldn't be the same if they weren't slow-cooked, with smoked ham hocks, for hours.


BTW - the kidney beans retain most of their color in my red beans and rice.

I've read that it's not safe to cook kidney beans in the slow-cooker. Do you boil them first?

[Dirt Grinder]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

I've read that it's not safe to cook kidney beans in the slow-cooker. Do you boil them first?

I boil all beans before putting them on a slow simmer.

[Robyn55]

I buy Camellia red beans (which I can't buy locally) on line:

Red Kidney Beans :: Camellia Brand

They start out red (actually a brownish red) and wind up that way too. I buy them wherever I can buy them cheapest (including shipping). Which varies from one purchase to the next. Amazon (Prime) is often a good bet. Robyn

[2sleepy]

I cook red beans all the time -I'm referring to small red beans, not kidney beans. They can take forever to cook, but here's a few tips -

• Look for the freshest beans that you can find, they are theoretically good forever, but the older red beans are the longer they take to cook.
• soak them for 6-8 hours or overnight in cold water, rinse and drain
• never add salt until the beans are fully cooked
• some people suggest adding a bit of baking soda to make them cook faster, I tried but didn't see any difference.

When I can't wait for them to cook I put them in the pressure cooker.