Remember when everyone said dried beans were too much work?

I used to avoid them because of the long soak time, you know? But a couple years back, I was really broke after a slow winter for the business, and I needed to cut my food bill down. I found a tip online about using a pressure cooker, which I already had for canning. I tried it with a bag of pinto beans from the discount grocery. Instead of soaking overnight, you just rinse them, cover with water in the pot, and cook for about 35 minutes. They came out perfect, and a one-pound bag, which cost maybe $1.50, made enough for a week of meals (like bean bowls, soups, and burritos). It totally changed my view on cheap staples. What's your favorite 'too much work' food that actually has a simple shortcut?

3 comments

3 Comments

lee_gibson1mo ago

Saw a video about using a food processor to make pie dough in like two minutes.

dylan6191mo ago

Ever try that with lentils? They cook even faster, no soak at all.

joseph93226d ago

Lee's talking about pie dough and you're over here with lentils... classic dylan619. My brain just short-circuited trying to make a lentil pie crust.