Whether you’re stocking your pantry or found some dried beans buried on a back shelf and are wondering what to do with them, we’ve got you covered. Packed with nutrients and low-cost, beans and lentils can easily be prepared in batches, stored for later use, or enjoyed right away.

Follow these easy steps for preparing beans and lentils at home!

1. Clean

• Before soaking, sort through dried beans, peas, or lentils.
• Throw out any that are discolored or shriveled.

2. Soak

To soak quickly:

• Fill a pot with water. Add beans. Bring to a boil.
• Boil beans for 5 minutes. Turn the heat off. Cover, and let sit for one hour.
• Drain the soaking water. Rinse the beans.

To soak overnight:

• Fill a bowl with 3 cups cold water per 1 cup beans.
• Soak beans for 8 to 12 hours at room temperature.
• Drain the soaking water. Rinse the beans.

3. Cook

• Add enough water to cover dry beans, peas, or lentils by two inches.
• Simmer the beans for 30 minutes to 2 hours, until cooked. You may need to
• add water to keep beans from drying out.
• Beans, peas, and lentils are done when they are easy to break open with a fork.

4. Store

• Use right away. Or, store in refrigerator or freezer.
• When you are ready to use frozen beans, defrost and prepare like canned beans.