Any tips to rehydrate dried beans in hard water? I tried a tsp of table salt, but no luck. I soak over night, but they stay hard. Cooking and cooling doesn't work either. Thanks and God bless.
By Joan from Lewes, DE
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A spoonful of baking soda should help to soften the water, but salt should be avoided as it toughens the beans. Age affects them too, so if they're older than six months you might consider buying some new as the older ones are harder. If it's still a problem you might use filtered water to soak. Good luck!
According to gomestic.com/
For hard water, add one fourth teaspoon baking soda per pound of beans during soaking. It says to never add soda above 1/4 teaspoon per pound because more than that will adversely affect the flavor and nutritive value.
You may have a little luck covering them with very cold water about 1" higher than the beans, then bringing them to a rolling boil and keeping them at a consistent boil for about 25 minutes. This replaces the overnight soak if you're making any kind of bean or split pea soup, too.
This is the best method I have ever used I found it on Alton Brown's show on food TV. Using a large container with a lot of water, Put in a good amount of salt . The water should taste salty Put in beans making sure they are well cover with water (make sure water is still salty.) Put a cover on the beans and let set at least 24 hours room temperature.
Fill a pot with beans, then cover with hot water, DO NOT add salt until after you have boiled the beans. Good luck (:
I too have hard water and often add a little vinegar to soften it, whether cooking or laundry. It cleans up the white hard water marks on the spouts too.
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