Canned beans vs. dried beans - I finally gave in

I always swore by dried beans because they're cheaper and taste better. But last Tuesday I had 20 minutes to get dinner on the table and only had canned black beans in the pantry. Threw them in a skillet with some cumin and garlic, and honestly my family didn't notice the difference. The time I saved was huge - no soaking or simmering for 2 hours. Has anyone else switched to canned for weeknights and just kept dried for weekend cooking?

2 comments

2 Comments

sarah_hart1mo ago

Read something on Serious Eats once where they tested this exact thing and found most people couldn't tell the difference in a taco or soup situation. That article basically saved my sanity because I used to feel guilty reaching for the can opener. Now I just keep a stash of canned black beans and chickpeas for rushed weeknights and save the dried ones for slow Sundays when I want to do a big pot of beans from scratch. It's like having two different tools for two different jobs, not better or worse just depends on the day.

alicecooper1mo ago

Honestly the "20 minutes to get dinner on the table" part hits home. This is just how life works now, we're all trying to save time wherever we can and cutting corners isn't always bad. Dried beans are great when you've got the whole afternoon but canned beans are a lifesaver for those nights when you gotta get food out fast.