PSA: I thought dried beans were a waste of time until I tried them last winter
For years, I only bought canned beans because I thought the dried kind were too much hassle. Then my budget got tight, so I bought a 2-pound bag of black beans for $2.50. After soaking them overnight and cooking for an hour, I got way more food than four cans would give me. The taste was better, and I saved over $5 on that one meal. Now I'm split, is the extra time really worth the savings, or should you just grab the can?
Honestly, it's just beans. The canned ones are fine for a quick dinner when you're already tired. Saving a couple bucks feels good, but time has value too. Not everything needs to be a big kitchen project.
My kitchen last night was a can of black beans, some rice, and about 15 minutes of effort. I get where you're coming from, willow_garcia. After a long day, that trade-off is totally worth it. Sometimes a simple meal that gets you fed is the real win.