On 16 Sep 2004 14:46:19 -0700, Erica >
wrote:


> Hey,
>
> As I was soaking a pot of pinto beans, I wondered...is this
> really necessary? Is there any real reason to soak beans before
> cooking them?
>

If you just cook them (*most* of them), they will be mush before
they are done, severely over-cooked.

You can put them in cold water, bring it to a boil, remove from
heat and let sit covered for an hour, then cook...But it is
better to soak them for 8+ hours.

AC