"Erica" > wrote in message
om...
> 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?
>
> Thanks for any help.
>
> --Erica

Nope - all it does is shorten the cooking time. If you boil dry beans
briefly and let sit in the hot water for a while it is supposed to lessen
the gas-generating effects. See my kitchen myths page at
http://www.pgacon.com/KitchenMyths.htm for this and other myths.

Peter Aitken