Kidney Beans, Organic

Organic dried plastic-free kidney beans can be soaked and cooked in various ways; perfect in soups, stews, salads, chilli, and many other dishes. Available in 100g, 250g, 500g and 1kg. Orders will sent in paper bags, please reuse and recycle. We recommend storing beans in an airtight container. 

Soak beans for 8 hours, or overnight, in water – the beans will expand so do make sure you use a big enough pan. Drain and rinse in fresh cold water. Bring to the boil for 10 minutes to remove all toxins, and simmer in water for 45-60 minutes.

If you are using dried kidney beans instead of tinned kidney beans, the rule of thumb is that dried beans roughly triple in weight when cooked. A 400g can of kidney beans yields about 240g of drained beans, so you will need to use about 80g dried beans per tin (46p) – so for the batch cookers among us, a recipe that requires four tins of beans should be replaced with 320g dried beans (£1.85).

There are several benefits to using dried kidney beans rather than tinned kidney beans:

Higher fibre content: Dried kidney beans typically have a higher fibre content compared to tinned beans. Fibre is essential for digestive health and can help regulate blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol.

Less processing: Dried kidney beans undergo minimal processing, whereas tinned beans are often cooked under high heat and pressure to sterilise them for preservation. This processing can lead to some loss of nutrients, particularly water-soluble vitamins like vitamin C and B-vitamins.

Cost-effectiveness: Dried kidney beans are typically cheaper than tinned kidney beans, making them a more budget-friendly option, especially if you're cooking in large quantities.

Added ingredients: Tinned beans may contain added salt and preservatives to maintain their shelf life, which can affect their nutritional profile. Additionally, some canned beans may be packaged with added sugars or flavourings, further altering their nutritional content.

Texture and flavour: Dried kidney beans tend to have a firmer texture and can absorb flavours better during cooking, resulting in a much richer taste.

Reduced sodium: Tinned kidney beans often contain added salt as a preservative. By using dried beans, you can control the amount of salt in your dish. 

Long-term storage: Dried beans have a longer shelf life compared to canned beans, which can be beneficial for stocking up on pantry staples.