How To Cook Kidney Beans In The Instant Pot (Dried & Soaked)

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4.84 from 12 votes Detailed Steps Jump to Recipe

Want a quick and easy way to cook kidney beans from scratch? This Instant Pot kidney beans recipe uses dried or soaked kidney beans and gives you soft, perfectly cooked beans. It's my go-to meal prep method, and once you try it, you'll skip canned beans for good.

I still use canned beans occasionally, but cooking kidney beans at home is my go-to for weekly meal prep. It's budget-friendly, preservative-free, and lets me control the texture for soups or salads.

To get started with cooking beans and using your Instant Pot, you might find my Instant Pot basics guide helpful, as well as these recipes for Instant Pot Chickpeas, Instant Pot Black Beans, and Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas. These bean recipes include soaking tips, cook times, and storage suggestions to help you incorporate legumes into your meals.

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Ingredients
Detailed Steps
Tips, Variations, and Substitutions
Storage
Recipes to use cooked kidney beans
FAQ
Recipe

Ingredients

Dried Kidney Beans: The base of this recipe. And I used speckled kidney beans, as seen in the process shots. Substitutions: Any dried kidney beans (red, white or speckled beans).

Bay Leaf: Add subtle flavor to the beans. You can skip it if you wish to cook plain beans. Substitutions: Dried thyme, oregano, ½ teaspoon of onion or garlic powder, vegetable broth cubes.

Salt: Salt will enhance all the flavors, and it is optional.

For exact ingredient quantities, see the recipe card below.

Detailed Steps

Step 1: Rinse the kidney beans under cold water to remove dirt or debris. Optionally, soak them overnight or for about 8 hours. After soaking, drain and rinse the beans again.

Step 2: Add the rinsed kidney beans into the Instant Pot inner pot.

Step 3: Add water, salt, and bay leaf(if using). And close the Instant Pot with its lid.

For soaked beans: Pressure cook on HIGH for 10 minutes.

For dried beans: Pressure cook on HIGH for 40 minutes.

Step 4: Once the Instant Pot turns off, wait 15 minutes and manually release the pressure. You can also do a natural pressure release.

Step 5: Perfectly tender beans are ready to use in your favorite recipes!

Tips, Variations, and Substitutions

Cooking kidney beans, whether you're aiming for a side dish or the base for a hearty main, can be simple and rewarding. Here are some tips to ensure you get perfectly cooked beans every time.

Quick Release vs. Natural Release: Allow for a natural pressure release in your Instant Pot for the best texture. A quick release might leave your beans a bit undercooked.
Seasoning: Adding bay leaves or a bit of olive oil can make a huge difference in flavor. Feel free to experiment with other seasonings like garlic, onion, or vegetable broth instead of water for an extra flavor boost.
Water Ratio: Ensuring you have enough water is crucial. A general rule is using about 4 to 5 cups of water for every cup of dry beans. Adjust as needed to ensure the beans are fully submerged.
Salt: Adding a bit of salt before cooking can enhance the flavor.
Cooking Time: Keep in mind that the cooking time can vary based on the kind of beans and whether they're soaked. Dry kidney beans will take longer than soaked ones. Also, older beans require a longer cooking time. Increase the cooking time for a minute or two for a little mushy beans.
Cooking Liquid: I store the cooking liquid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and use it while making soups, pilafs, and refried beans. You can freeze the residual cooking water for up to 3 months.

Storage

Cooked kidney beans can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for six months. Ensure they're cooled down and drained well before storing them in airtight containers. This method keeps the beans fresh and ready for your next meal.

Store this drained water and cooked kidney beans separately in the refrigerator and use them. In this way, beans will not spoil quickly.

As shown below, I always measure the beans and store them in steel containers according to my meal size. I also freeze them in the same containers. You can measure and store the cooked beans in freezer-safe containers and thaw them when needed.

Recipes to use cooked kidney beans

With your kidney beans cooked, you're all set to explore delicious recipes. From hearty soups to vibrant salads, kidney beans add nutrition and flavor to any dish. Here are some of the best ways to incorporate them into your meals.

Red Kidney Beans Soup (Easy & Vegan Recipe)
Red Kidney Bean Salad with Avocado - Rajma Salad
Easy rice and beans (Instant pot & Stovetop recipe)
Indian Red Kidney Bean Curry Recipe

FAQ

How to thaw frozen kidney beans?

Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight, or for a quick solution, rinse under hot water.

What do you do if we cannot cook soaked beans?

If your plans change, drain the beans, store them in an airtight container, and refrigerate. They'll be good for up to two days.

How do I know if kidney beans are cooked?

They should be tender but still hold their shape. If they're too firm, they need more cooking time. If they start to become mushy, they've been overcooked.

Can I double the recipe in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you can double the recipe in a 6-quart Instant Pot as long as you don't exceed the maximum fill line of your Instant Pot. Adjust the amount of water accordingly.

Do we need baking soda to cook beans?

While some people use baking soda to soften beans faster, it's not necessary. I prefer not to use it to keep the beans' natural flavor intact.

Have you tried cooking red beans in the Instant Pot using my recipe? Provide your feedback by giving a star rating and/or leaving comments. And don't forget to share the recipe with others on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter.

Recipe

Instant Pot Kidney Beans (Dried & Soaked)

By: Sravanthi Chanda Learn how to cook soaked and dried kidney beans effortlessly in your Instant Pot with this simple guide.

Rate this recipe by clicking the stars!

4.84 from 12 votes Print Recipe Pin Recipe Prep Time 5 minutes Cook Time 30 minutes Course Main CourseCuisine American, Global, Mexican Servings 4Calories 56 kcal

Equipment

▢ Instant Pot

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 1x2x3x

▢ 1 cup kidney beans dried
▢ 2 cups water 4 cups if cooking dried beans
▢ ½ teaspoon Salt optional

Instructions

Prep the Beans: Rinse the kidney beans under cold water to remove dirt or debris. Then, soak them overnight or for about 8 hours. After soaking, drain and rinse the beans again.
Add the rinsed kidney beans into the Instant Pot inner pot.1 cup kidney beans, ½ teaspoon Salt, 2 cups water
Add water and salt. And close the Instant Pot with its lid.
Start the instant Pot in manual or pressure cook mode and cook on HIGH pressure for 10 minutes for soaked beans.
Select the manual or pressure cook option and set the timer for 40 minutes on high pressure to cook dried beans.
Once the Instant Pot turns off, wait 15 minutes and manually release the pressure. You can do a natural pressure release as well.
Perfectly tender beans are ready to use in your favorite recipes!

Notes

Nutrition values are my rough estimates. Please feel free to use your calculator if you rely on them for your diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 56kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 297mgPotassium: 178mgFiber: 3gSugar: 1gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 1mg Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Enjoyed this recipe?Drop a comment below and let us know your thoughts!

More Kidney Bean Recipes

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Vegetarian Chili Recipe With Kidney Beans

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Comments

Do you keep the cooked beans in their liquid for storage? If not what do you do?
Reply
- No, I strain the liquid and store them seperately. I use the liquid to make soups, curries and pilafs.
  Reply
I'm confused because one of the tips you include on this page says "Water Ratio: Ensuring you have enough water is crucial. A general rule is using about 4 to 5 cups of water for every cup of dry beans. Adjust as needed to ensure the beans are fully submerged." But then your recipe says 1 cup of beans to 2 cups of water. I'm soaking the beans overnight. Is it really correct then that it's 1 cup of beans and 2 cups of water?
Reply
- If you are soaking the kidney beans, then 1 cup of beans require 2 cups of water. And if you do not want to measure the exact amount of water, you can add water until beans are submerged fully.
  Reply
Which contains do you use to freeze your cooked beans?
Reply
- I use stainless steel containers.
  Reply
I soaked my beans because they were old, and then your recipe worked perfectly. Thank you! I had used some of the same beans (unsoaked) in another no soak recipe and they were definitely uncooked, so I'm happy that they can still be used without wasting 😁
Reply
- It's my pleasure, and I am so happy that my recipe helped you 🙂
  Reply
Soaked beans turned out perfectly tender. Such a great recipe on a summer evening when cooking beans on the stovetop is out of the question due to heat. I can’t wait to follow her instructions for cooking black eyed peas.
Reply
- Thank you so much for the feedback 🙂
  Reply