It’s no secret that homemade always trumps store-bought or packaged. And that’s especially the case with beans. It’s also the case that making beans from scratch is a serious pain. First, you have to soak the suckers. Then there’s the long slow simmer, which renders them a no-go for weeknights. It’s no wonder you find yourself reaching for the can opener.
So let’s give yet another round of thanks for the kitchen device du jour—the electric multicooker, which makes working with dried beans as easy as pushing a button. “Dried beans are having a moment right now because of two words: Instant Pot,” says Joe Yonan, author of the recent cookbook Cool Beans. The recipes that follow are all specially designed for multicookers, which get dried beans tender and creamy three times faster than doing it the old-fashioned way on the stove. Start stocking your pantry now.