Cooking Beans and Legumes: Soaking, Crock-Pot & Tips

Cooking pinto beans and lentils in a Crock-Pot makes for a nutritious, low-fat meal. From tenderizing dry beans with baking soda to managing soaking times, explore healthy ways to incorporate legumes into your weight-loss journey.

uncooked white cow pea beans in wooden spoon, top view

How to Cook Black-eyed Peas Without Soaking

The black-eyed pea, also known as the black-eyed bean or cowpea, is a medium-sized edible bean that gets its name from the black spot found on every bean. Originating in Northern Africa, the bean is a staple food in many countries and is a part of "soul food"

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How to Cook Canned Black-Eyed Peas on Stove

Black-eyed peas, also referred to as cowpeas, are a type of legume, which is a vegetable class that also includes beans and lentils. Black-eyed peas provide a low-fat source of protein and make a nice meat substitute. Black-eyed peas are a good source of iron, potassium, folate, magnesium and fiber.

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How to Cook Pinto Beans That Don't Cause Gas

Beans are a non-meat protein that are low in fat and high in fiber. You’d think by now someone would have resolved that one little thing that’s not so lovable -- those embarrassing gaseous emissions. High fiber and complex sugars called oligosaccharides are to blame for this problem.

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fresh frozen peas in bowl

Canned Peas Vs. Frozen Peas

Green peas are a cheap and nutritious food and a low-fat addition to any meal. Cooked peas contain significant quantities of vitamin K, manganese, vitamin B-1 and vitamin C. Additionally, peas are a great source of dietary fiber. Either frozen or canned, peas are packaged in a convenient form for quick cooking.

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How to Cook Large Lima Beans in a Crock Pot

As the name suggests, large lima beans are a supersized version of the pale green legume. Up to an inch long, they have a mild flavor and creamy, buttery texture. Lima beans pack a nutritious punch, as well. One 1/2-cup serving provides 5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein with no fat or cholesterol.

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Red beans

Can You Substitute Kidney Bean for Cannellini Bean?

Understanding the difference between the cannellini and kidney beans can help you decide if a substitution is possible, depending largely on the recipe you are using and how the beans are prepared. The beans have some similarities that make them interchangeable in some dishes.

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Great Northern Beans Vs. Canned White Beans

When you set about making an old-fashioned bean dish, you'll likely reach for white beans. White beans have been used for centuries as a nourishing staple, even today when fresh foods are always available it's comforting to have a bag or can of white beans on hand.

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Multicolored lentils

Myth of Lentils as an Incomplete Protein

Lentils are part of the legume family and packed with important nutrients. In the United States, many vegetarian and health conscious individuals use lentils as a source of protein for their meals. In India, lentils are widely consumed and often eaten daily.

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Mexican Salad

Red Kidney Beans Health Risk

Red kidney beans, a common addition to bean chili and other dishes, is a nutritious vegetable, full of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Despite this, there are health risks associated with eating them.

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Bowl of green beans

What Are the Benefits of Eating Raw Green Beans?

Green beans are a common vegetable that is widely available and generally inexpensive, so it's not difficult to add this food to your diet. Raw green beans provide a wide array of important nutrients, ranging from dietary fiber to the mineral fluoride.

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How to Make Canned Peas Taste Good

Some people don’t enjoy vegetables’ taste -- with canned peas high on many least-favorite lists. Since vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet, look for a way to make the peas more palatable, especially for young children. A few household items can help improve canned peas’ taste.

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lentils salad

How to Make Lentils Tender

Lentils are small legumes, also known as “pulses,” that are high in fiber and protein and low in fat. Common varieties of lentil include black, brown, green and red. Lentils are typically sold in dried form and are hard like little pebbles before the cooking process begins.

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Red bean on rural cookware

Are Kidney Beans Healthy for Kidneys?

Similar to the kidney in shape and color, kidney beans provide a variety of minerals and vitamins, and so are generally beneficial for your health. If your kidneys are healthy, kidney beans can -- when consumed as part of a balanced diet -- contribute to your kidney health.

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Chicken Enchiladas Verde

The Glycemic Index of Refried Beans

When choosing which carbohydrates to eat, two factors to consider are a food’s glycemic index and glycemic load. These metrics assess how quickly and how strongly your blood sugar rises after eating a particular food.

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How to Cook With Garbanzo Bean Flour

Garbanzo bean flour, as the name makes plain, comes from garbanzo beans or chickpeas and also goes by the names chickpea flour or gram flour. Unroasted garbanzo bean flour also is known as besan, besum or chana flour and forms a cornerstone of Indian, Pakistani and Greek baking.

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Side Effects of Pinto Beans

Pinto beans can be a healthy protein source. Eating 1/2 cup of pinto beans adds 8 g of protein to your daily intake. You will also get 8 g of dietary fiber without any fat or cholesterol from 1/2 cup of plain cooked pinto beans.

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Purple Hull Peas in Basket

Purple Hull Peas Nutritional Value

Purple hull peas are a type of peas related to black-eyed peas that are rich in fiber and fat-free. If you're athletic, purple hull peas can be beneficial, as they are also rich in carbohydrates.

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dried Black-Eyed Peas, Cowpea

How to Cook Crowder Peas

Crowder peas are part of a Southern pea group called field peas. They were most likely brought to America by Spanish explorers or African slaves. Fresh crowder peas have a more robust flavor than black-eyed peas or cream peas and are known for the dark juices they leave in the pot.

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