I’ve recently soaked pinto beans twice, and I’ve noticed a strange pattern: only about 2/3 of them expanded as expected. Both times, I soaked the dry beans for approximately 18 hours, yet around 1/3 of the beans didn’t change size at all. Does anyone know why this might be happening?
I understand that older beans can sometimes be difficult to cook, but the bags I used weren’t particularly old—the most recent one has a best-by date of December. Any thoughts?
There could be a few reasons why some of your pinto beans aren’t expanding as expected during soaking:
Bean Quality: Even if the beans are not particularly old, differences in quality can occur. Factors like storage conditions before you bought them can affect their ability to absorb water.
Inconsistent Soaking: Make sure the beans are fully covered with water while soaking. Sometimes if there isn’t enough water, not all the beans will be able to expand.
Temperature: If the soaking water is too cold, it can slow down the absorption process. Try using warm water for soaking to encourage better absorption.
Hydration Issues: Some beans can have hard skins that don’t allow water to penetrate effectively. If you notice beans that didn’t expand, you might want to discard them, as they could be underdeveloped or damaged.
Plant Variety: Sometimes, different varieties of pinto beans can behave differently during soaking and cooking.
Soaking Method: If you’re only soaking overnight, consider trying a quick soak method (boiling for a few minutes and then soaking for an hour) to see if that helps with consistent expansion.
If the problem persists with future batches, it might be worth trying beans from a different brand or supplier.
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