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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Beans, Beans the Wonderful Fruit!

As I type this, I have two types of beans cooking on the stove in preparation for 4 Bean Chili (and Chili Dip, and Chili Manicotti). The recipe calls for canned beans, but dry is so much more economical that I use them whenever I can.

In order to substitute dry beans for canned, here's a handy fact list to remind you of the various relationships between dry, cooked and canned beans:
  • Dry beans expand to about 2-1/2 times their original size when soaked.
  • A one-pound package of dry beans equals about 2 cups dry, or 5-6 cups cooked.
  • One 15 ounce can (drained) equals about 1-2/3 cups cooked beans.
  • 2/3 cup of dry beans cooks up to 1 can of cooked beans.

I usually cook 1-3 pound of beans at a time. Any beans I don't need for a recipe, I freeze in 15 oz. can amounts. Pull them out of the freezer the night before and they'll be ready when it's time to make dinner. Delicious, nutritious, and economical!

4 comments:

  1. One Acre FolliesNovember 3, 2009 at 8:23 PM

    I've always wondered what the "exchange rate" was. I usually just wing it. Dried beans are healthier too because they don't have the artificial preservatives and junk in them.

    ReplyDelete
  2. jamersNovember 3, 2009 at 8:43 PM

    Now I'm singing the song!! Thanks man! :)

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  3. Jason and Lisa JonesNovember 3, 2009 at 10:14 PM

    great lesson! :) Very interesting. going to use this never new the conversion or amounts to use.

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  4. RebeccaNovember 4, 2009 at 2:22 PM

    Thanks for this.. I have been thinking about preparing more beans as they are actually affordable these days :)

    ReplyDelete