Beans (dried)

• Dried beans
• Water

Sort through the beans, removing any stones or beans that don't look quite right. (This isn't usually very many.)

Put the beans in a large pot or bowl with 4 cups of water for the first cup of beans and 3 cups for each additional cup of beans. Let the beans soak for at least 4 hours, longer for beans that have been stored for a while. If you're going to leave them overnight, you can put the bowl in the refrigerator.

After the beans are done soaking, drain the beans thoroughly and rinse them. Put them in a pot and add water to cover by one inch. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for about one to one and a half hours, depending on the type of bean.

Here are some rough simmering times for dried beans: