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    Home » Recipes » Beans and Legumes

    How to Cook Dry Kidney Beans on the Stove

    Published: Jul 16, 2021 / Modified: Jul 16, 2021 by Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN / This post may contain affiliate links / 27 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print
    cooked kidney beans in a serving bowl next to a spoon and napkin
    kidney beans cooking in a pot and in a bowl separated by text box

    Learn how to cook dry kidney beans safely on the stovetop with this tutorial! Tips for using and freezing red kidney beans are also included.

    cooked kidney beans in a serving bowl next to a spoon and napkin

    This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my affiliate disclosure.

    Knowing how to cook dry beans is a great skill for plant-forward cooking. Yes, canned beans are convenient. But once you make your own beans from scratch, you’ll see just how delicious and creamy they can be! I find the whole process very satisfying for some reason.

    I’ve been experimenting with different ways to prepare beans, and this tutorial will focus on how to cook dry kidney beans on the stove. It’s not the only way to cook red beans, but it’s very easy and doesn’t require an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.

    Before we get to the tutorial, let’s discuss some FAQ about red kidney beans. You may have questions about their toxicity, how long they take to cook, and how to tell if they’re actually cooked.

    Are kidney beans toxic?

    In their raw form, kidney beans can be toxic. They contain a compound called phytohaemagglutinin that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea if it’s not destroyed via cooking. That’s why it’s so important to fully cook red beans before eating them.

    Do you need to soak kidney beans?

    For dried kidney beans in particular, experts suggest soaking them for at least 5 hours before cooking. Whether or not you should soak beans in general is always up for debate. Some claim that soaking makes beans easier to digest, while others claim otherwise.

    Personally, I like soaking beans because it promotes even cooking and shortens cooking time. If I’m making beans in the Instant Pot, however, I don’t soak them.

    red kidney beans soaking in a bowl full of water on a counter

    How long does it take to cook kidney beans?

    On the stovetop, it takes between 45 and 90 minutes to cook kidney beans. However, depending on the soaking time and age of the beans, they may take less time to cook. They are finished cooking when they are tender and have a creamy texture. It’s normal for some beans to split open while others maintain their shape.

    Cooking Kidney Beans Safely

    The process of preparing kidney beans involves sorting, soaking, cooking, draining, and storing. It takes some time, but it’s super easy! Here’s everything you need to know about how to cook dry kidney beans.

    Equipment

    For soaking, you’ll need a large bowl. For cooking, gather a colander, Dutch oven or large pot, and a wooden spoon. You may also want to get out some containers for storage at this time.

    Soaking Kidney Beans

    Look through the kidney beans before soaking and remove any shriveled, damaged, or broken pieces. Then place the kidney beans in a large bowl. Make sure the bowl is big enough to account for the kidney beans expanding during soaking.

    Add enough water to cover the kidney beans by a few inches. For one cup of dried beans, use about 4 to 6 cups water. For one pound of dried beans (about two cups), double that amount. Let the kidney beans soak for at least 5 hours or overnight.

    Cooking Kidney Beans on the Stove

    Drain the kidney beans from the soaking water. Place them in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add 10 cups of water if you are cooking a pound (about two cups) of kidney beans. Add two bay leaves if desired.

    Bring the pot to a boil for a few minutes, then reduce heat to a simmer for about 45 minutes and up to 90 minutes. You’ll know kidney beans are cooked when they are tender and creamy. Some of them may split open.

    Be sure to stir the beans every once in a while to promote even cooking. Check them for doneness at 30 minutes, since cooking times can vary depending on soaking time and age of the beans.

    I like to add a teaspoon of salt about 10 minutes before I take the beans off the stove. Some people claim that salt prevents the beans from getting soft during cooking, so I add it towards the end to be safe.

    cooked kidney beans in a Dutch oven with a wooden spoon on a counter

    Storing Cooked Kidney Beans

    Drain the cooked beans, or use a slotted spoon to transfer the beans to storage containers. I like to use a slotted spoon so that I get a little bit of the liquid with the beans, but it’s up to you. I like how they get creamier when they’re stored in liquid. If you want to cool down the beans before storing, rinse them with cold water in a colander.

    Since most recipes call for beans in 15-ounce cans, I like to store cooked kidney beans in portions of 1 and ¾ to 2 cups (about 15 ounces). This makes it really easy to add them to future recipes.

    You can keep cooked beans in the fridge for up to a week. They last for up to 3 months in the freezer in airtight containers or silicone bags. You usually do not need to thaw frozen kidney beans before adding them to recipes, since they are commonly used in soups, chilis, and other cooked recipes. I don’t recommend using frozen beans in cold recipes like salads.

    cooked kidney beans on a counter next to spoon and napkin

    Ways to Use Red Kidney Beans

    You can use cooked kidney beans in soups, chilis, tacos, and salads. They also make a great base for pureed bean dips and are the main ingredient in red beans and rice recipes!

    For other ways to prepare dried beans, see the Instant Pot Pinto Beans and Slow Cooker Black Beans with Scallions. My BBQ Lentils with Shredded Carrots are another reader favorite.

    I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.

    📖 Recipe

    cooked kidney beans in a serving bowl next to a spoon and napkin

    Stovetop Cooked Kidney Beans

    Learn how to cook dry kidney beans on the stove, including tips for freezing them.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved!
    Prep Time: 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 45 minutes mins
    Soaking Time: 5 hours hrs
    Total Time: 5 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
    Servings: 6 cups
    Calories: 255kcal
    Author: Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

    Equipment

    • Large bowl
    • Colander
    • Dutch oven or large pot

    Ingredients 

    • 1 pound dried red kidney beans
    • 2 bay leaves - optional
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Sort through the kidney beans and remove any shriveled or broken ones.
    • Place the kidney beans in a large bowl and cover with 10 cups of water. Leave the bowl on the counter and soak for at least 5 hours or overnight. The beans will swell up in size as they soak, so be sure to use a bowl that's big enough.
    • Drain the soaked beans and place them in a Dutch oven or large pot with 10 cups of fresh water. Add the bay leaves to the pot.
    • Bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, then reduce heat to a simmer. Let the beans simmer for 45 minutes and up to 90 minutes until tender and soft. Add the salt about 10 minutes before you think they'll be finished cooking. Some beans may split open during the cooking process. Depending on the soaking time and age of the beans, they may only take 30 minutes to cook, so check them then to see if they're done. Stir the beans periodically while they're on the stove to promote even cooking.
    • When the beans are finished, remove from heat. You can choose to drain them completely or transfer them with a slotted spoon to storage containers. I like to include a tiny bit of liquid with my beans when I store them, so I use a slotted spoon. If you want to cool the beans down before storing, drain and rinse them under cold running water.
    • Store the beans in 1.75 to 2 cup portions (equivalent to a 15-ounce can of beans), since this makes them easier to add to recipes that call for a can of beans. They will last for a week in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
    • Leave a rating or review by tapping the stars on this recipe card (above) or in the comments section (at the end of the post)!

    Notes

    • It’s very important to cook kidney beans completely. They contain a compound that can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea if it’s not destroyed via the cooking process.
    • Use the ratio of 5 cups water for 1 cup of dried beans for both soaking and cooking. So, for a pound of dried beans (~2 cups), you need 10 cups water.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 397mg | Potassium: 1028mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 5mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @its_a_vegworld_afterall and follow me today!

    Enjoy your beans! – Lizzie

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Alexis Davis

      October 31, 2023 at 11:00 am

      How do I know for sure that they are done?! Panicking about accidentally poisoning everyone with my chili!

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        October 31, 2023 at 11:09 am

        Hi Alexis, they will be soft and easily mashable when they’re done. Their texture should be the same as canned beans that are fully cooked.

        Reply
    2. Sylvia

      August 17, 2023 at 10:07 am

      5 stars
      very helpful and concise

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        August 17, 2023 at 10:30 am

        Hi Sylvia, I’m glad to hear the post was helpful!

        Reply
    3. Lily

      February 28, 2023 at 12:44 pm

      How many cups of cooked kidney beans will you get from 1 lb of dried kidney beans?

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        March 01, 2023 at 10:59 am

        Approximately 6 cups of cooked beans

        Reply
        • Sharnee Taylor

          May 27, 2023 at 9:51 pm

          Can I use kidney beans for my homemade chili for hotdogs or what are the best beans to use

        • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

          May 30, 2023 at 10:09 am

          Hi Sharnee, yes kidney beans are great in chili! You can also use pinto beans or black beans in chili.

    4. Nathalie Simpson

      January 21, 2023 at 10:29 am

      I’m doing the recipe right now and I didn’t read the instruction properly and add the salt at the beginning, will my beans be good or not? Also, I have a few of them that cracked and there’s a lot of white, are they good or I should discard them? Thanks in advance

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        January 23, 2023 at 4:32 pm

        Hi Nathalie, your beans will still be good even if you added the salt at the beginning! It’s also OK to use dried beans that have cracked as long as they don’t look like they are rotting. I hope you enjoyed the recipe!

        Reply
    5. Christine

      September 04, 2022 at 6:57 pm

      So far, so good. just need to know if I cook with or without a lid? I am making homemade vegetarian patties with these red kidney beans. Also, is it okay to reduce the salt to half of what is listed in the recipe? I will post again once we have had the homemade vegetarian patties this way instead of can bought beans.

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        September 07, 2022 at 11:57 am

        Hi Christine, you cook these without a lid. And yes, you can reduce the salt as desired. I hope the beans and vegetarian patties turned out well for you! 🙂

        Reply
    6. Janice Clark

      August 14, 2022 at 6:41 am

      I appreciate the clear instructions. I am making this today.

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        August 15, 2022 at 8:08 am

        Thank you! I hope you enjoyed the recipe :-)!

        Reply
    7. Mama

      July 29, 2022 at 7:08 pm

      5 stars
      Yummy and versatile!

      Reply
    8. Tonya Crowley

      June 17, 2022 at 10:25 pm

      5 stars
      Very helpful article. Also thank you for letting us know about what can happen if they are not cooked all the way or long enough. 😉

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        June 24, 2022 at 11:02 am

        I’m so glad you found the article helpful!

        Reply
    9. Nichola

      May 05, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      When cooking the beans, do we cover or leave the pot uncovered?!

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        May 17, 2022 at 3:37 pm

        Uncovered!

        Reply
    10. Mary

      April 13, 2022 at 10:09 pm

      5 stars
      Very clear and simple instructions. I soaked overnight and boiled and simmered on the gas stove in a ditch oven. Perfect!

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        April 14, 2022 at 10:21 am

        That’s great! I’m so glad you found the post helpful, Mary!

        Reply
    11. Angele

      March 20, 2022 at 4:47 pm

      Hi, thank you for the recipe. Just curious, what is the reasoning behind using bay leaves?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        March 21, 2022 at 10:43 am

        Hi Angele, I use bay leaves to add some flavor to the beans. You can omit them if you want. I don’t think it would have an impact on flavor.

        Reply
    12. feBi

      November 11, 2021 at 9:38 am

      5 stars
      thanks for the info.!

      Reply
      • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

        November 11, 2021 at 10:28 am

        I’m glad it was helpful!

        Reply
        • K

          November 26, 2021 at 7:25 am

          Are red kidney beans a good protein substitute for vegetarians who are concerned about carbs and diabetes?

        • Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN

          November 29, 2021 at 10:32 am

          They are an excellent source of vegetarian protein. They also contain carbohydrates and are higher in carbohydrates than most animal sources of protein. However, due to their high fiber and protein content, kidney beans are considered complex or “healthy” carbs that can certainly fit into a balanced diet for someone with diabetes.

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