How to Prepare Chili Beans (Best Beans for Chili)
Chili is one of those comforting meals that everyone loves. As it continues to grow in popularity, so does the range of ingredients used to make it! This article explores the Best Beans for Chili, including canned chili beans and dried beans.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound dried kidney beans
- 2 quarts cold water
- oil any variety is fine
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
Instructions
- Pour the package of beans into a colander or large sieve. Sort through and remove any shriveled beans or stones. Then rinse thoroughly under cold running water.
- Place the beans in a large bowl and add the water. Cover with a plate and let soak for 6 hours or overnight. The beans will double in size, so ensure there is sufficient room.
- Drain the beans and place them in a medium-large large pot with 10 cups of fresh water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat. Skim off any foam that appears on the surface using a spoon or skimmer.
- Stir to dislodge any beans stuck on the bottom of the pot. Then add the droplets of oil and the salt to the pot. Reduce heat to low and cover.
- Simmer until tender, about 40 to 60 minutes depending on the variety of beans.
- Drain the beans using a sieve, reserving some of the liquid for the chili if desired.
- Use the beans as directed in the chili recipe. To store for later use, rinse under cold water and place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
- How to Add Flavor to Chili Beans: Once the beans are cooked, you can add salt, tomato paste, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, soy sauce, or molasses.