Paint The Kitchen Red

  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
×
Home » Recipes » Instant Pot

How to Quick Soak Dried Beans in the Instant Pot

Published: Mar 15, 2018 | Updated: Aug 2, 2023 | Author: Neena Panicker

JUMP TO RECIPE
Quick soak dry beans
Quick soak dry beans
Instant Pot Tip - Quick soak beans in 30 minutes - v2 - Paint the Kitchen Red

Canned beans aren’t the only option if you’ve forgotten to or don’t have the time to soak your dried beans before using them in a recipe.  You can quick-soak dried beans in the Instant Pot in less than 30 minutes.

Instant Pot Tip - Quick soak beans in 30 minutes - v2 - Paint the Kitchen Red

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.

Table of Contents


  1. Introduction
  2. Tips
  3. Ingredients
  4. Step by Step Instructions
  5. Recipe Card – Printable
  6. Related Recipes and Guides

If you’ve always used canned beans for your recipes, there’s a better, healthier way!  Use your Instant Pot to cook your dried beans from scratch and you can avoid the sodium and preservatives that come with canned beans.

Most recipes that use dried beans recommend soaking beans overnight.  If you’re like me, then it’s possible that you’re not organized enough to soak your dried beans ahead of time!

This is where the Instant Pot pressure cooker comes in so handy.  You can quick soak dried beans easily in half an hour. This trick works for me consistently without fail.

Here are some recipes using dry beans in the Instant Pot that you might like to try out!
– Instant Pot Chili 
– Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
– Vegetarian Instant Pot Moroccan Stew

TIPS AND SUBSTITUTIONS


Beans

I’ve found that this method works with pretty much any type of dried beans including pinto beans, kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, and other types.

I use this method to quick-soak beans for any quantity of beans. I just make sure there’s enough water to cover the beans by about an inch.

I like to soak or quick-soak beans before I pressure cook them because I prefer to drain the soaking water. I feel that the beans are easier to digest when they’ve been soaked or quick-soaked and the soaking liquid is discarded.


If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, you might find it helpful to first read one of the following guides and then come back here to learn how to make this recipe.

  • General Instant Pot Instructions for Beginners
  • Instant Pot ULTRA Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot DUO EVO PLUS Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot DUO NOVA Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot DUO GOURMET Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot DUO CRISP Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot PRO Beginner’s Manual
  • Instant Pot PRO CRISP Beginner’s Manual

Ingredients Required to Quick Soak Beans

Instant Pot quick soak beans chickpeas and water ingredients
  • Water
  • Beans

How to Soak Beans Quickly using the Instant Pot (Step by Step Instructions)

  1. Add beans and water
  2. Pressure cook
  3. Do a natural pressure release
  4. Drain the beans

Add Beans and Water

Instant Pot beans quick soak collage - dried beans, add water - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Put the beans in the Instant Pot and add water about 1-inch above the level of the beans.

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cook 5 minutes

Instant Pot Duo Manual mode 5 minutes collage - close lid, press manual, press - or +, display shows 5 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid and make sure steam release handle is in Sealing position
  • Press Manual (or Pressure Cook) and + or – until the display reads ‘5′ (5 minutes).

Instant Pot Ultra Pressure Cook 5 minutes

Instant Pot Ultra pressure cook 5 minutes collage - close Instant Pot Ultra, set time to 00:05 and select Pressure Cook, press start - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Close the lid.
  • Select Pressure Cook mode and adjust the time to 5 minutes (00:05).
  • Press Start.

Pressure Cooking Process (Duo and Ultra)

Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooking collage - display shows On, float valve is down, display shows L0:00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
Instant Pot Ultra pressure cooking collage - Ultra display shows On, float valve is up, display shows 00 00 - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Instant Pot display will change to On.
  • Once the Instant Pot is pressurized, the float valve will go up.
  • The display will count down to 0; it will then switch to Keep Warm mode and display ‘L0:00’  or ’00 00′ and begin to count up the number of minutes since pressure cooking completed.

How to Naturally Release Pressure (NPR) on the DUO and ULTRA

Instant Pot Duo natural release cancel and open collage - float valve is down, arrow pointing to Cancel, lid is open - Paint the Kitchen Red
Instant Pot Ultra Natural Release Cancel and Open collage - arrow pointing to float valve down, press cancel button, lid is open and Instant Pot Ultra display shows Off - Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Allow the pressure to release naturally (NPR).  The float valve will be in the down position.  This may take 15 to 30 minutes. [Find out more about the pressure release methods and how and when to use them. ]
  • Press Cancel and open the Instant Pot.

Drain the Beans

Instant Pot Quick Soak Dried Beans collage - Cooked red beans and drained into a bowl- Paint the Kitchen Red
  • Drain the beans and use them in any recipe that calls for soaked beans.
Instant Pot Tip - Quick soak beans in 30 minutes - v2 - Paint the Kitchen Red

How to Quick Soak Dried Beans in the Instant Pot

Canned beans aren’t the only option if you’ve forgotten to or don’t have the time to soak your dried beans before using them in a recipe. You can quick soak dried beans in the Instant Pot in less than 30 minutes.
4.94 from 31 votes
PRINT PIN RATE
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 224
Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
Prevent Screen from Going Dark

Equipment

  • Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
  • Plate
  • Fine mesh sieve

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups dried beans
  • water (enough to cover 1 inch above beans)

Instructions
 

  • Place beans in a shallow tray or plate.
  • Clean the beans by removing any foreign items like twigs, stones, etc.
  • Pour the beans into a bowl and fill with water. Pick out anything that rises to the top.
  • Drain the beans into a sieve or colander.
  • Pour beans into the Instant Pot inner pot.
  • Add water to the beans.
  • Close the lid and pressure cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes.
  • Do a Natural Pressure Release (NPR) and open the lid. [Read More: The Different Pressure Release Methods]
  • Drain the liquid and use the beans in any recipe that calls for soaked beans.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cup | Calories: 224 kcal | Carbohydrates: 40 g | Protein: 15 g | Fat: 0.9 g | Saturated Fat: 0.1 g | Sodium: 4 mg | Fiber: 13 g | Sugar: 0.5 g
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Miscellaneous
Main Ingredient beans
Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

Did you know that the best way to support your favorite bloggers is to comment and rate recipes, and share on social media? If you loved this recipe, please comment and give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below. If you’re a pinner, pin this post using the Pin buttons at the top and bottom of this post and in the recipe card above. Thank you for your support!

BACK TO TOP

Recipes you Might Also Like!

1
Instant Pot Red Beans and Sausage served on rice in a black bowl on a white wooden background with multicolor napkins. Garnished with parsley and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
Authentic Ham Hock Red Beans and Rice
Red Beans and Rice is an authentic New Orleans recipe that will be very popular at your next gathering.  It tastes as though you've cooked it for hours, and tastes even better the next day.  Perfect for feeding a crowd, this recipe is so simple.  I've given instructions for using dried beans if you don't have time to soak.
GET RECIPE
2
Instant Pot Chili in white bowl on green cloth with cornbread; topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
Homemade Instant Pot Chili (with dried beans)
This Instant Pot Chili, made using ground beef and dried beans, is the perfect comfort food for a fall or wintry evening.  It’s also a great dish to feed a crowd, or for game day.
GET RECIPE
3
Vegetarian Instant Pot Moroccan Stew with carrots, squash, chickpeas, cilantro, tomatoes in black bowl on colorful mat with lemons in background
Vegetarian Instant Pot Moroccan Stew
This Vegetarian Instant Pot Moroccan Stew is so delicious that you won’t miss the meat! The stew has a dynamite combination of ingredients that gives it a rich, complex flavor profile that you’re going to love. Serve with a lemon and herb couscous, or quinoa.
GET RECIPE

More Instant Pot

  • Instant Pot Brownies a la Mode - 3 mason jars of brownie with ice cream topped with blueberries, mint leaf- Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Brownies in a Jar
  • Bowl of Kerala parippu curry with fried curry leaves, onions, and chili.
    Kerala Parippu Curry – South Indian Dal
  • Instant Pot Error Codes A Complete Guide with image of Instant Pot display panel.
    Instant Pot Error Codes Complete Guide
  • Instant Pot Chicken Tinga rice bowl in orange bowl with chicken tinga tacos and nachos in the background - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Best Instant Pot Chicken Tinga

Comments

  1. Karyn H says

    October 07, 2023 at 10:17 am

    5 stars
    Thank you!!! I wanted to make some Charro Beans in the slow cooker and I keep forgetting to soak them. This worked absolutely perfectly and I think I am now going to be hooked on IP pre-soaking! I can’t thank you enough for this most helpful tip. Winter recipes are going to be so much easier now. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      October 10, 2023 at 3:52 pm

      Karyn, thank you for commenting and I’m so happy that you found the quick soak method useful!

      Reply
  2. Kendall says

    August 25, 2023 at 4:31 pm

    Not sure what went wrong, but I followed this recipe exactly as written and my black beans are still hard. I’m putting them back into the IP for 7 minutes now because it seems like 5 minutes did nothing.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      August 29, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      Hi Kendall, sorry for the confusion but this recipe is just a way to quickly soak your beans when a recipe calls for soaked beans. You still need to cook them.

      Reply
  3. Shellie says

    May 27, 2023 at 12:16 pm

    I just tried this method with a pound of cranberry beans. 5 mins high, and then NPR which took around 20 mins. The beans are perfectly cooked and ready to eat now. I’m worried that they may be too cooked for the recipe I was pre soaking for.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      May 30, 2023 at 1:41 pm

      I hope they turned out well in your recipe. Next time, reduce the time to 3 minutes, maybe?

      Reply
  4. Jackie says

    April 27, 2023 at 12:59 pm

    5 stars
    I used to turn up my nose at quick soaking beans. I tried it long ago and it just didn’t work for me. But I was in a hurry and decided to try it. I liked that your technique was in the Instant Pot. Oh my! My beans turned out great! I did 6 minutes because I am at 5800′. You have changed my world!! I am going to try another small batch of another bean, maybe kidneys! My tip for new bean chefs – buy your beans where there is decent turnover. I go to an organic/vegetarian type store. So much better than my usually great supermarket.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      April 29, 2023 at 4:05 pm

      Jackie, thank you for your comment and for giving it a try! I’m glad you like the method – it’s such a time saver.

      Reply
  5. Jonathon says

    March 25, 2023 at 6:05 am

    Haven’t made it yet, but the whole presentation of detailed information and instructions is great. Nice job.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      March 26, 2023 at 12:59 pm

      Thank you for the kind words, Jonathon!

      Reply
  6. Barbara says

    February 24, 2023 at 7:17 pm

    5 stars
    When IP soaking the 2 cups of kidney beans how many commercial cans of kidney beans would that equal?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 24, 2023 at 10:19 pm

      Barbara, 2 cups of dried beans should be about 6 cups of cooked beans, drained. Each can of kidney beans has about 2 cups of beans. So about 3 cans, I would guess.

      Reply
  7. Mother of pearls says

    February 23, 2023 at 6:03 pm

    5 stars
    I’m a beginner to bagged beans, but looking to cut down our grocery budget. I have tried soaking bagged beans overnight twice and both times were unsuccessful. The beans were ALWAYS too hard and after adding the soaked beans to any recipe, they never got the right texture. Today after a third try at an almost 24hr soak and once again they were still really hard, I looked into tips, and your blog post came up. This worked perfectly and we were able to make a 12 bean vegetarian soup and the beans were just like the ones I’d buy in a can! Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 23, 2023 at 7:50 pm

      That’s so great to hear. I love this tip for the convenience but really glad to hear it’s also actually better than soaking for 24 hours! Thank you for commenting.

      Reply
  8. mikaela | wyldflour says

    December 01, 2022 at 2:25 pm

    5 stars
    Where has this trick been all my life??? I much prefer cooking with dried beans but ALWAYS forget to get them soaking early enough. I followed the recipe exactly with a mixture of garbanzo, cranberry, and navy beans. They naturally released for almost an hour in the instant pot. And then they simmered for 90 mins in a sardinian minestrone. They came out perfectly! Will be using this quick-soak method from now on. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      December 01, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      Hi Mikaela, awesome! I’m so glad I could help out! Another plus in the Instant Pot column, haha! Your minestrone sounds amazing.

      Reply
  9. Bernadette says

    December 01, 2022 at 1:37 pm

    Hi Neena,
    Help!!
    I tried this method last night and it was an epic fail 🙁 I followed the directions to the T and the kidney beans were mostly hard and shriveled. I then added it to my chili and proceeded to cook them on the stove for another 20-30 minutes and no luck.
    Any thoughts on where I went wrong?

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      December 01, 2022 at 2:45 pm

      I’m so sorry to hear that, Bernadette! The cook time you used on the stovetop seems too little. Kidney beans take 30 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot, so the stovetop cooking time is much more – like 90 minutes or more. If you did cook them for a long time, another possibility is that the beans were old. If beans have been sitting around for a long time they won’t cook properly. I hope that helps.

      Reply
      • Bernadette says

        December 06, 2022 at 8:21 am

        Hi Neena, thanks for the response 🙂
        Ahh that’s where I went wrong! I thought that the quick soak was equivalent to canned beans, meaning they were pretty much cooked already 😁

        Reply
  10. kathie says

    September 11, 2022 at 2:37 pm

    Id like to know how much water.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      September 12, 2022 at 7:28 pm

      Kathie, you can add enough water to cover the beans by about an inch. The quantity will depend on how much beans you’re soaking.

      Reply
  11. Laurie B says

    January 17, 2022 at 8:23 am

    Getting ready to quick soak, for a chili, that I’m making for supper. Taking the good reviews as a Goooo. Wish me luck!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      January 18, 2022 at 10:31 am

      Hope it worked well for you, Laurie!

      Reply
  12. Rebecca Patton says

    January 06, 2022 at 12:56 pm

    5 stars
    Worked perfectly!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      January 07, 2022 at 11:17 am

      So glad to hear it – thank you for your review.

      Reply
  13. Karen says

    December 08, 2021 at 7:38 pm

    If I soak beans in the pressure cooker are they considered cooked? Because I’m making soy milk and have to soak the beans first, but I don’t want them to be cooked.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      December 13, 2021 at 8:58 pm

      Hi Karen, I haven’t done a quick soak with soybeans. But for other kinds of beans, I find that a 5-minute quick soak is equivalent to an 8 hour soak.

      Reply
  14. Nancy says

    December 07, 2021 at 6:05 am

    5 stars
    So happy I can across this. I’m trying to improve my cooking skills and this is really what I needed. My finicky kid actually act his entire meal

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      December 07, 2021 at 5:11 pm

      Nancy, I’m so happy to hear this – thank you for commenting!

      Reply
  15. John Watson says

    November 10, 2021 at 1:51 pm

    5 stars
    Thanks to you quick-soak article, A never before occurrence just happened. My beans came out perfect. I quick-soaked pinto beans with 5 minute HIGH pressure and 1 hour slow release. I use to pressure cook pintos for 45-60 minutes without quick-soak and they were were always iffy with some hard shells. I can only assume, leaving them under hot pressure then hot sealed pot for 1 hour was a gentle secret. Now to season and make refried or freeze.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      November 10, 2021 at 2:34 pm

      Hi John, so glad to hear it. I’ve found the same thing – when I cook chili with beans without quick-soaking, there are inconsistent results.

      Reply
  16. JamaGG says

    September 09, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    Thanks for posting this fast presoak method. I will continue to use it, but there must be something wrong with the beans I used because many/most of them burst and are not looking so wholesome in the chili I made using your recipe. They taste fine though.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      September 13, 2021 at 12:33 pm

      You might not need to cook the chili as long if you think they were overcooked. The cooking time of the chili is dependent on the beans. Maybe you have a variety that cooks faster. Thanks for the comment.

      Reply
  17. Pamela says

    August 13, 2021 at 11:52 am

    In your intro you said, “ I like to soak beans before I pressure cook them because I prefer to drain the soaking water. I feel that the beans are easier to digest when they’ve been soaked and the soaking liquid is discarded.

    I don’t understand this because I thought the whole point was not to have to soak the beans.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      August 13, 2021 at 1:32 pm

      Hi Pamela – the important point is with soaking or quick-soaking, you’re throwing out the water. I’ll make a change to the text to mention quick-soaking.

      Reply
  18. Linda says

    July 07, 2021 at 1:43 am

    How about cooking them 5 minutes, and then letting them sit in the still closed pot (keep warm.function off)in till completely cooled. Wouldn’t they be fully cooked by then? Hmm… will give that a try I think

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      July 07, 2021 at 1:23 pm

      I would try that out, depending on the type of beans you might be surprised.

      Reply
  19. nicole says

    April 09, 2021 at 12:19 pm

    5 stars
    thanks. planned to make ham and beans or should i say dumpling soup with ham and beans lol. (i always make double dumplings) anyways. i forgot to soak my beans and thanks to this i was able to get them soaked and ready before dinner time!! amazing bean hack!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      April 09, 2021 at 1:29 pm

      That sounds yummy! Glad you were able to make it quickly 🙂

      Reply
  20. Monique says

    February 08, 2021 at 12:00 pm

    5 stars
    I wanted to make your red beans recipe and this method worked great. The red beans came out great too. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red says

      February 08, 2021 at 12:03 pm

      I’m glad it worked out for you, Monique. And glad you liked the red beans and rice recipe!

      Reply
Newer Comments »
4.94 from 31 votes (16 ratings without comment)

Questions, Comments? I love hearing from my readers and I reply to all comments! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This Recipe!




Neena in red sweater head tilted

Hi, I'm Neena Panicker, and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

More about me →

Popular

  • Reasons Why Instant Pot is Not Sealing or Pressurizing
    Reasons For Your Instant Pot Not Sealing
  • Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with colorful vegetables in white bowl with spoon on rich red napkin.
    Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chicken
  • 4 Instant pots - 3, 6, 8 and 10 quart - what size instant pot should i buy?!
    Sizes of Instant Pot – What Size do you Need?
  • Instant Pot Chili in white bowl on green cloth with cornbread; topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Homemade Instant Pot Chili (using Dried Beans)
  • Natural Release vs Quick Release
    How To Natural Release Instant Pot vs Quick Release
  • Instant Pot Panang Curry with chicken, green beans, red and green peppers, Thai basil in a white bowl on a light wood background
    Thai Instant Pot Panang Curry with Chicken
  • Beginner's Manual and User's Guide Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
    How to Use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer | Beginner’s Manual

Seasonal

  • 4 ears of corn sitting on husks on a white plate
    Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
  • Wasabi Instant Pot Deviled Eggs with wasabi and pickled ginger on colorful blue plate - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Wasabi Deviled Eggs Recipe – Delicious Appetizer
  • Instant Pot Korean Chicken two thighs and four drumsticks on a dark background, garnished with sesame seeds
    Instant Pot Korean Chicken with Gochujang
  • Instant Pot Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs on dark background with sprinkled cilantro and green onions
    Thai BBQ Chicken
  • Instant Pot Banh Mi sandwich on black background, with meat, daikon, carrots and cilantro; cilantro and green onions sprinkled on surface - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Banh Mi | Vietnamese Sandwich
  • Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken L1 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Grilled Instant Pot Jamaican Jerk Chicken
  • Instant Pot beet, arugula, candied walnut salad on white plate with fork or dark background
    Arugula Goat Cheese Beet Salad
  • Instant Pot Ratatouille - round wooden board with cheeses, basil, olives, crostini, cherries, nuts, crackers
    Instant Pot Ratatouille | Braised Summer Vegetables with Fresh Herbs

Featured In

Media that have featured Paintthekitchenred.com including cnet, nbc news, cnbc, instant pot, the huffington post.

Social Media

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Contact

Disclosures

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Web Stories

  • Google Web Stories

Shop

  • Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2016 - 2025 Paint the Kitchen Red

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.