# Using Bacon to season beans. Raw or precook? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481 "2017-07-04T02:30:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/1 "2017-07-04T02:30:49Z")
Planning on seasoned butter beans tomorrow along with steak and baked sweet potato. I can’t recall if my grandmother precooked the bacon? I don’t mean fully cooked. Just make it sizzle in the pan, brown the edges, and release some of the fat. Season the beans with the meat and fat. Or should I just cut up the bacon and throw it in the pot? Directions for the frozen butter beans is cover in water. Bring to boil, cover and simmer (low heat) 35 to 40 mins. That certainly cooks the bacon? I looked for some ham scraps and the store didn’t have any. Bacon is 2nd best choice. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/2 "2017-07-04T02:44:36Z")
Throw the bacon in raw. That way it releases all its flavor into the beans. If you can smell it cooking, you’re losing flavor. Instead of ham scraps look for fatback, salt pork or bacon ends. All are usually available at a butcher and usually fairly cheaply as well. Then freeze them until needed. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/3 "2017-07-04T02:49:22Z")
I like to put the bacon in the pot before anything else and cook it for a little while (7-ish mins?) to release some of the yummy fat and crisp it a bit and then add water, beans, etc. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/4 "2017-07-04T03:09:26Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I like to put the bacon in the pot before anything else and cook it for a little while (7-ish mins?) to release some of the yummy fat and crisp it a bit and then add water, beans, etc. Ditto! ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/5 "2017-07-04T03:27:05Z")
Once the fat is rendered, that’s when you add the onions. After 5 minutes or so, add the water and the beans. Beans without onions? What’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/6 "2017-07-04T03:33:09Z")
I wasn’t too thrilled at dirtying a skillet. I like using the pot to render the bacon. I would have lost some of the flavor transferring it from a skillet. I picked up two bags of speckled butter beans and two big bags of purple hull peas. I’ll break up the purple hulls into 2 freezer bags. We’ll be eating well for awhile. I’ve been tempted to go by the farmers market. They sell fresh purple hulls already shelled. I’d have to get my wife to help blanch them. Gotta work fast. 45 seconds in boiling water and then immediately cool off with cold water. Transfer into freezer bags. Its best down by two people. I used to help my grandmother do a mess at a time. Whatever a mess is. 😃 it’s less than a bushel. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/7 "2017-07-04T03:49:05Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Once the fat is rendered, that’s when you add the onions. After 5 minutes or so, add the water and the beans. Beans without onions? What’s the point? I hadn’t thought of onion. Sounds good. I’ll give it a try some time. I don’t have any on hand for tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/8 "2017-07-04T03:55:12Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Planning on seasoned butter beans tomorrow along with steak and baked sweet potato. Recipe please. 🙂 > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I like to put the bacon in the pot before anything else and cook it for a little while (7-ish mins?) to release some of the yummy fat and crisp it a bit and then add water, beans, etc. Yes, agreed. > [@Labdad](#): > > Once the fat is rendered, that’s when you add the onions. After 5 minutes or so, add the water and the beans. Beans without onions? What’s the point? Also good. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/9 "2017-07-04T05:52:02Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > Recipe please. 🙂 > > Yes, agreed. > > Also good. We’re figuring out the recipe in this thread. 😃 For two people, I plan to cook 11/2 cups frozen butter beans, 2 slices chopped bacon, black pepper. Should have some leftovers the next day The sweet potatoes are very easy. Wash, Pat dry with paper towel and prick with a fork in 4 places. Fork goes in about a 1/4 inch. Bake on cookie sheet at 400 for 1hour 10 mins Serve hot with butter I really like McCormick zesty herb marinade. Mix it up (using their directions) in a gallon ziplock bag. Add two steaks. Set in fridge a couple hours. I turn them a couple times and squeeze the marinade around the steaks. [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Marinades-Zesty-Herb-Grill-Mates-Marinade-Mix-1.06-oz/10308847?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228009283177&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40889222192&wl4=aud-310687322322:pla-78818986352&wl5=9025854&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=10308847&wl13=&veh=sem](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Marinades-Zesty-Herb-Grill-Mates-Marinade-Mix-1.06-oz/10308847?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228009283177&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=40889222192&wl4=aud-310687322322:pla-78818986352&wl5=9025854&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=10308847&wl13=&veh=sem) Cook as usual. I prefer an electric grill. Or you can go old school and use a charcoal grill. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/10 "2017-07-04T06:16:38Z")
The marinade, mixed with white vinegar, is an important step in tenderizing and flavoring the steak. Typical steaks from Kroger need tenderizing. 😃 I probably wouldn’t use a marinade with high grade beef. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/11 "2017-07-04T11:45:55Z")
Butter beans are really good with a few whole okra pods cooked along with them. Also, a pinch of baking soda at the beginning of cooking will give the beans a better texture, not so mushy. ---
**Author:** ![Plumpudding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Plumpudding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plumpudding)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/12 "2017-07-04T12:06:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Throw the bacon in raw. That way it releases all its flavor into the beans. If you can smell it cooking, you’re losing flavor. > > [snip] What is this about? I’d think a frying stage before adding beans would give _additional_ flavor, aka Maillard reaction. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/13 "2017-07-04T13:48:19Z")
> [@Labdad](#): > > Once the fat is rendered, that’s when you add the onions. After 5 minutes or so, add the water and the beans. Beans without onions? What’s the point? Yep, that’s how I do it. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/14 "2017-07-04T21:50:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Yep, that’s how I do it. Yup. Me too! That’s also how I make potato soup. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-bacon-to-season-beans-raw-or-precook/790481/15 "2017-07-04T21:58:22Z")
These are the important things that need discussing. This is what the children should be learning.