Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are lumpy, light tan beans that you can eat cold in salads, roasted as a crunchy snack or cooked in soups and stews. They are common in Indian, South American and Middle Eastern cuisine.

Adzuki beans, also called aduki or azuki beans, are small, red, dry beans often used in Japanese and Chinese dishes. Their small size lets them cook more quickly than other beans, and they have a reputation for not causing quite as much of a gas problem as other beans.

Tiny, black and round, beluga lentils are named for the caviar they resemble. In addition to their striking appearance, beluga lentils hold their shape well during cooking, unlike other lentils that tend to become mushy.

Cannellini beans are large, white Italian beans that have a creamy texture when cooked. Enjoy cooked cannellini beans in chili, soups, stews or bean salads. Use canned cannellini beans, which are already cooked, when you are in a hurry, or save money by cooking your own dried beans.

Navy beans, also known as pea beans, are one legume that even infrequent bean eaters have experience with. They're the traditional bean used in baked beans and in the classic French dish cassoulet.

The traditional method for cooking dried beans involves soaking the beans overnight, draining them and either simmering the beans on the stove top or baking them in the oven.

Canned red kidney beans make a nutritious convenience item. They have a shelf life of at least two to three years, and they spare you the hassle of soaking dried beans to rehydrate them; they're also pre-cooked, so they only need to be warmed through. Such bean can be eaten cold dishes such as salads.

Pinto beans have countless culinary uses as well as a range of nutritional benefits. According to Martha Archuleta of New Mexico State University, 1 cup of pinto beans contains 1/4 of the USDA's recommended daily protein intake. Pintos are also an excellent source of fiber, B vitamins, niacin, thiamin and riboflavin.

Beans are packed with fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals with no saturated or trans fat. When dried, heart-healthy legumes are a convenience item for long-term storage in your pantry.

Also referred to as green beans, runner beans, string beans and wax beans, French beans are typically around 4 inches long and feature a bright green color. When the beans are sliced open, tiny seeds can be found inside. But don’t worry about removing these seeds before cooking — they are edible and nutritious.

Green bean casserole is a flavorful side dish that is well suited for the holidays. The dish works well with almost any main course, making it a flexible vegetable dish. The recipe takes plain green beans to a different level with added mushroom and onion flavors and a creamy texture.

Hearty chili serves as comfort food in many homes, and everyone has their own favorite recipe. Beans are one of the star ingredients in many versions, although some people prefer their chili without beans. Kidney beans are the most commonly used beans in chili, although many other types can be used as well.