There are few ingredients more economical than dried beans. Even if you’re mail-ordering $8 per pound heirloom varieties from companies like Rancho Gordo, you’re still only spending around $1 per serving, which will get you 8 to 10 grams protein and 7 to 8 grams dietary fiber. Pick up a pound of generic beans from the grocery store and you’ll spend even less.

A pot of cooked beans can turn into anything from a weeknight soup to a dinner party-ready appetizer in minutes. And they keep great in the fridge or freezer so that you can pay the cooking effort forward to your future self. No time to plan ahead? Canned beans are a simple substitute that cost just a few pennies more.

Cooking dried beans

Traditionally, dried beans are soaked before cooking. Soaking reduces cooking time a bit

See Full Page