Spare Spoons Kitchen
The Pantry · Instant Pot · no soaking

Basic Black Beans

A pot of tender black beans from dry, no soaking — just beans, water, and a little aromatics, pressure-cooked into the building block for tacos, bowls, soups, and sides. Vegan and gluten-free.

25 min pressure no soak from dry
Effort ●○○○ Time ●●○○ Anytime
Instant PotVeganGluten-Free
Servingsamounts scale to match
6
Units

Ingredients

No soak — dry beans straight in, then a full natural release. A 25-minute cook plus a natural release softens dry beans completely; the spoon of oil keeps the foam down. Don't rush the release or the beans split and the skins toughen.

Easier, if you like

  • Double or triple it and freeze in 1½-cup portions (about a can each).
  • Skip the bouillon for a plainer bean to season however the recipe calls for.

Method

    Cook's notes

    The building block — these go into tacos, burrito bowls, the Mexican rice and beans, or get blended into refried beans.

    No soaking needed — 25 minutes plus the natural release does it from dry.

    Older beans take longer; if they're still firm, reseal and cook another 5–10 minutes.

    Naturally vegan and gluten-free; freeze the extras in their liquid.

    Vegan and gluten-free as written

    Vegan / gluten-free: it already is — use a GF bouillon.

    Other beans: the same method works for pinto or kidney beans (similar timing).