Is it safe to cook dried beans in a pressure cooker?

Yes, absolutely. It's my favorite way to cook beans. Just keep in mind that dried beans double in volume and weight after cooking. To avoid overflow, do not fill the inner pot much above the ½ mark with beans and water to allow for this expansion.

Can I use broth instead of water?

Yes, if you want. I don't find that it's necessary to use broth because the combination of salt, garlic, bay leaf and optional herbs add lots of flavor to the beans. Also, the water turns into a flavorful broth while the beans cook.

Do I have to add olive oil?

It's optional, although it adds some flavor and richness to the beans. Keep in mind that oil helps reduce the amount of starch that might spew out of the steam release valve if you choose a quick release. However, that doesn't really apply to this recipe, which uses a slow, natural release.

How long do cooked beans stay fresh?

Pressure cooked white beans will stay fresh for about 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I freeze the cooked beans?

Yes. Freeze the cooked beans with or without the liquid they cooked in (your choice). If kept in an airtight freezer-safe container, the beans will keep for up to 6 months in a freezer. I often use either a Ziploc freezer bag or glass jar.

How many cups of fresh beans equal 1 can of store-bought beans?

About 1 ½ cups cooked beans equals a 15-oz can of beans

Can I use bean/chili mode instead of manually programming the Instant Pot?

On my Instant Pot, Bean/Chili Mode automatically cooks for 30 minutes at high pressure. If this cooking time works for you, great! Use the Bean/Chili mode. If you want to program more or less cooking time, use the Manual button to program in an exact cooking time.

Instant Pot White Beans (Cannellini, Navy, Great Northern)

Name: Instant Pot White Beans (Cannellini, Navy, Great Northern)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 ounces (about 2 1/2 cups) dried white beans; 8 cups water; 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional); 2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt; 1 small bay leaf (optional); 4 to 6 smashed garlic cloves (optional, but adds flavor); A few sprigs of fresh herbs, like rosemary, thyme or parsley (optional)

Instant Pot White Beans (Cannellini, Navy, Great Northern)

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4.7 from 15 reviews

A simple no-fail recipe for Instant Pot white beans that can be used for meal prep and easy dinner recipes. Use this recipe to cook all varieties of dried white beans, including Instant Pot Navy beans, Cannellini and Great Northern.

This recipe makes a lot of beans (about 6+ cups) which means you can use the beans throughout the week or freeze leftovers. Or, simply cut the recipe in half.

Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 20 minutes to reach full pressure + 25 to 30 minutes to cook + 20 minutes to naturally release pressure.

This recipe was originally posted May 15, 2019 and updated Sept. 14, 2021.

Author: Jenny
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Yield: 7 cups cooked beans 1x
Category: Side Dishes
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Units Scale

16 ounces (about 2 1/2 cups) dried white beans
8 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
2 teaspoons kosher salt or 1 teaspoon table salt
1 small bay leaf (optional)
4 to 6 smashed garlic cloves (optional, but adds flavor)
A few sprigs of fresh herbs, like rosemary, thyme or parsley (optional)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Rinse the beans under running water.
Combine beans, water, olive oil, salt, bay leaf, garlic and herbs in the Instant Pot.
Secure the lid and set the release valve to sealing.
Cook on high pressure for 25 to 40 minutes, depending on the variety of bean.
Navy bean: 25 minutes
Great Northern: 30 to 35 minutes
Cannellini: 30 to 40 minutes
When the cooking time is done, let the pressure release naturally (about 25 minutes)
If the beans don't seem cooked all the way, you can simply seal the lid again and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. You can use an Instant or natural release. You can repeat this process as necessary until the beans are cooked to your liking.
The bean liquid is really flavorful and can be used as stock for soups, stews, or chili.

Notes

This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot

Pre-soaked beans will cook faster. Soaked white beans usually need between 7 to 10 minutes at high pressure. It can be slightly longer, depending on the bean variety and how long the beans were soaked.

Storage: The beans will stay fresh for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Beans freeze well for about 6 months. Put cooled beans in a Ziploc freezer bag. Flatten out the bag so the beans are in a flat, even layer. You can also freeze beans in a freezer-safe container. You can freeze beans with or without liquid. To defrost, put in the refrigerator overnight.

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/instant-pot-white-beans/