How to make Dried Black Beans in your Crockpot

I love using dried black beans to help save money on my grocery budget. I make a lot of recipes that call for cans of black beans. So instead of buying cans, I buy a large bag of dried black beans and make them in my crockpot. Then I transfer them to freezer safe containers or bags and freeze until I am ready to use them. One large bag of dried black beans is equal to 7 cans. I usually pay around $1.98 at the store for the bag of dried beans and cans at the store cost around $0.79 each. This is a HUGE savings!

It is so easy to make dried black beans in your crockpot using this method. I promise you that ANYONE can do this! You start out by rinsing the beans in a strainer. Picking put the debris, pebbles and half beans. Pour beans into your crockpot and cover with water. You want the water to be about 2 inches higher than the beans, because the beans will absorb most of it. Place lid on crockpot and let them soak overnight or 8 hours. DO NOT turn on your crockpot!

After soaking rinse them in a strainer. Place the beans back in the crockpot and cover with water and make sure to be around 2 inches higher than the beans again. This time turn the crockpot on Low and cook for 6-8 hours. Once done I strain them again but you do not have to do this. I put 1 1/3 cup of beans into freezer safe bag. Lay flat and freeze. When you are ready to use the beans you can use them frozen for crockpot recipes or thaw in the fridge overnight.

Here are some great tasting recipes that use black beans:

Sauteed Black Beans

Crockpot Tex-Mex Chicken with Black Beans & Rice

Black Bean Chili

Vegetarian Sweet Potato & Black Bean Taco Bake

Crockpot Black Bean, Corn & Chicken Chili

Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken

Chicken and Pumpkin Soup

Crockpot Taco Soup