Tried rinsing canned beans before cooking
By stealthy
@stealthy (8181)
United States
April 11, 2012 6:13pm CST
I tried rinsing the heavy liquid that comes in the can with canned beans(in this case it was Pinto beans, but I plan to try it with others) and they tasted the same but I didn't have to deal with the heavy liquid and it was easier to get the beans that usually stick to the bottom of the can out. It made it easier to serve them and the water I replaced the heavy liquid with didn't follow the beans onto the plate as much and run onto other things on the plate. I don't see any reason not to do this since it didn't affect the taste and probably doesn't affect the nutritional value of the beans.
1 person likes this
6 responses
@Nadinest1 (2016)
• Canada
12 Apr 12
I rinse kidney beans under water before I put them in chili.
I am like you, why would I want all the old thick liquid in the chili?
@ClassyLady1 (109)
• United States
13 Apr 12
;-)
That old thick liquid in the bottom of the bean can contains a lot of nutrition - and the thick liquid would assist in thickening your chili!
This from a 71 year old cook who has been cooking most of her life and raised three sons on a lot of beans and chili or other hamburger recipes!
@stealthy (8181)
• United States
14 Apr 12
I did a search on the topic and the four or so articles I read all recommended rinsing canned beans. They all said it did not reduce the nutrition and, most important for me right now, it reduced the amount of salt. There were other reasons given relative to taste and texture that rinsing was supposed to help or maintain.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Apr 12
I have been following this post with interest as I never buy canned beans. In my country they are very expensive as compared to buying dry beans, soaking them overnight and then cooking them for maybe 10 minutes in the pressure cooker. I make legumes once a week but don´t even take a look at the imported cans at the supermarket.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
13 Apr 12
Actually it´s very simple. I buy a kilo of beans (about 2 pounds),let it soak it overnight and to the pressure cooker for 10 min. I use what I need and use those zipper bags to freeze the rest. I´m sure I work less that what it takes to open the can and rinse the beans. And my beans have no chemicals.
@ClassyLady1 (109)
• United States
13 Apr 12
Good for you - making your beans from scratch is the best way to get all the nutrition available from the beans or other legumes you may have available in your country!
I applaud you for not buying and taking the 'easy' way out.
@marie2052 (3691)
• United States
15 Apr 12
I always drain any type of canned beans through a strainer too.
I would not think it should affect the nutritional value I have always done this when I make baked beans from cans of great northern beans and kidney beans when making chili.
Also if you like butter beans, drain the juice off add a pat of butter and about half a cup of milk salt and pepper they taste really good and not so bland.
@ClassyLady1 (109)
• United States
13 Apr 12
I am 71 years old and have been cooking since the age of five! [not so much then as now .. ;-)].
However, I see no reason for rinsing the beans before cooking - THINK about it! The heavy or thick liquid in the bottom of the can is loaded with nutrients and WHAT are you replacing all that nutrition with other than non-nutritional water?? Why waste your nutrition dollar? What a waste of delicious nutrition!
When cooking beans from scratch, the thicker the juice, the tastier the beans! Yum, yum. The one exception to my rule for not rinsing the beans is when I use them for a cold bean 'salad' dish - such as a Five Bean Salad made with canned beans rinsed, drained, mixed and dressed with a vineagarette dressing such as Italian (or any other of your favorite vineagarettes.
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
25 Jul 12
I can tell you that you lowered the nutritional value of the food the moment you threw away that soup. Anyway, not everyone likes it but why would I throw it away? It makes the food have a unique flavour and it also contains preservatives in case I want to eat left overs tomorrow.
