# Can you soak beans too long? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621 "2012-12-31T01:12:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/1 "2012-12-31T01:12:00Z")
I somehow got a day ahead of myself and put my (dry) black eyed peas in to soak today. I don’t want to cook them until Tuesday. :smack: Should I pour the water off (it’s already been in there about 3 hours) now and start over tomorrow night? Just leave it? Change the water tomorrow? Pour it off tomorrow morning and keep the damp beans in the fridge? ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/2 "2012-12-31T01:15:16Z")
I don’t think you can soak your beans too long. Once they’re saturated they can’t really get any more saturated. I was hoping this was a sexy euphemism thread. ---
**Author:** ![LouLou7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LouLou7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouLou7)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/3 "2012-12-31T01:19:26Z")
Might wanna pour the water off and put fresh water on. You don’t want them sitting in stale water. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/4 "2012-12-31T01:26:19Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I was hoping this was a sexy euphemism thread. I’m so happy that I wasn’t the only one. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/5 "2012-12-31T01:35:40Z")
I think you boys have had enough beans. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/6 "2012-12-31T01:39:32Z")
I have soaked beans early. I drain them and keep them in a container until I need them - up to couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/7 "2012-12-31T01:42:14Z")
You’re silly. And thank you…for the advice \*and \*the laughs! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/8 "2012-12-31T01:59:14Z")
Funny coincidence, I just put on a bean soup an hour ago, with beans I started soaking at noon yesterday. I meant to start cooking them around noon today, but went back to bed after waking up early and time got away from me. The pot of beans was quite foamy after soaking for over 30 hours, plus the room is really warm, probably about 75F. So, I thought maybe they started fermenting? Maybe they smelled a little like they were? I wasn’t about to waste them, though, and just rinsed them about three times, any questionable scent disappeared and they just smelled like normal rinsed beans. I added new water and put them back on the stove with a lamb leg bone and a duck neck. Smells good so far, anyway. I thought I heard somewhere you can do a long soak refrigerated, if needed, or just changing the water periodically as already mentioned would probably be OK, too. I think they’re probably pretty hard to really mess up. I think I would just stick them in the fridge. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/9 "2012-12-31T02:30:09Z")
I once tossed a pot of cooked beans because I could see the little pink nib things (embryos?). I thought they were some kind of insect egg. Mom told me I had overcooked the beans. Embarrassing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/10 "2012-12-31T02:36:46Z")
The crazy raw food nuts will soak beans for days until they’re soft enough to eat. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/11 "2012-12-31T03:26:15Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I thought I heard somewhere you can do a long soak refrigerated, if needed, or just changing the water periodically as already mentioned would probably be OK, too. I think they’re probably pretty hard to really mess up. I think I would just stick them in the fridge. Awesome. I stuck 'em in the fridge when I realized what I’d done, water and all. So I think I’ll just look at them tomorrow - if anything is splitting, I’ll dump the water, but otherwise I’ll just leave 'em be. > [@TriPolar](#): > > The crazy raw food nuts will soak beans for days until they’re soft enough to eat. Good to know. So maybe they’ll cook a little quicker than normal if they do take on more water with time. That’s fine with me - cooked black eyed peas will “hold” just fine if they’re done sooner than expected. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/12 "2012-12-31T03:28:26Z")
Fridge or they will sprout. Beans = seeds. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/13 "2012-12-31T03:55:29Z")
can you still get into the kitchen? if so they haven’t soaked too long. refresh the water. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/14 "2012-12-31T04:06:03Z")
Why do people soak beans anyway? I always throw mine in the crock pot and let them cook for 8hrs. Is it because people don’t want to deal with a crock pot for 8hrs? [No snark, just curious.] ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/15 "2012-12-31T04:10:25Z")
Some people don’t use crock pots. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/16 "2012-12-31T04:13:59Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Why do people soak beans anyway? 'Cause everyone’s always told me that’s how you do it. But no, I wasn’t planning on doing these in the Crock-Pot, anyhow. My Crock-Pots are, at the moment, full to the brim with Meat Sauce, Vegan Sauce\* and Italian Beef meat ‘n’ juice for tomorrow night’s party. They’re unplugged and out on the (enclosed, but cold) porch for the night. I’ll probably leave the party before they do, so I won’t have them to cook in on Monday. So stovetop it is. \*Not made with real Vegans. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/17 "2012-12-31T04:20:40Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > \*Not made with real Vegans. But it’d be okay with them if it was. If the vegans agreed to it, of course. Other people have been known to also soak their brown rice overnight before cooking it so that it will sprout, in the theory that it is healthier and more nutrient-dense. Some people also eat raw beans, or so I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/18 "2012-12-31T04:35:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Some people also eat raw beans, or so I’ve heard. Sensible people check the variety against a reputable source first. Raw kidney beans are quite detrimental to the health. I believe some other related varieties are, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/19 "2012-12-31T05:03:24Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Why do people soak beans anyway? > > I always throw mine in the crock pot and let them cook for 8hrs. > > Is it because people don’t want to deal with a crock pot for 8hrs? > > [No snark, just curious.] I usually use my crock pot for beans. I soak if I am I’m using my crock pot for something else at the same time. I only have one. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621/20 "2012-12-31T13:45:37Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Why do people soak beans anyway? > > I always throw mine in the crock pot and let them cook for 8hrs. > > Is it because people don’t want to deal with a crock pot for 8hrs? > > [No snark, just curious.] heating dry beans is wasted heat because the beans aren’t cooking i believe, just getting hot. also with dry ingredients in the crock pot you need to be careful with the amount of water; too little and it goes dry. also unless stirred often things might not cook together (if a mix of stuff) because the beans are jammed at the bottom after they have swelled. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-soak-beans-too-long/645621.md?page=2)