Wednesday, August 15, 2012

"Beans Beans the Musical Fruit"







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Beans have been a staple food for many generations, and now that we know their value in terms of protein,fiber and costs beans are probably the most cost effective healthy food we can put on the table; except for the gas that they produce more households would serve them more often.

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I am going to list some helpful solutions to the gas problem.
Beans have an outer shell that has a lot of Complex Sugar that causes the UN-friendly gas; so the solution is to reduce this complex sugar in the preparation process.  Listed below are some time honored methods used.

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1. It is said that if you soak beans in a water, baking soda solution overnight and rinse three times before cooking that there will be no gas. This mostly helps the break-down the outer shell but as the outer shell is opened the beans will absorb some of the baking soda, thus changing the taste of the beans somewhat.  This method is helpful  but not complete
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2. If you soak beans in a Saltwater solution overnight this method will definitely help soften the outer shell of the bean making it cook quicker and help remove some of the complex sugar, but the bean does absorb some of the salt.  This method work real well for a quick cook about 2 hrs for 1lb of beans, but is marginal for reducing the complex sugar ; thorough rinsing is necessary.
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3.This method works real well but is rather involved for what should be a simple process. you soak your beans overnight the rinse 2-3 times add fresh water and boil for 1 hr and them remove all liquid and rinse. now add your seasoning enough liquid to cover beans by 1-2 inches.
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4. This is the method I use. I soak my beans overnight in fresh water, before cooking I rinse 3 times and add the beans to a lined crock pot with enough fat free beef or chicken broth to cover by 1 inch and add seasoning ,no salt until done.  If need be any added liquid is more broth and cook oh high till fall apart done.   Then before I eat any I take 3 beano tablets and enjoy gas free beans.

1 comment:

  1. I'm baaack! I've taken a blogcation for a couple of months and now I'm catching up. This is really good info!

    I usually cook beans once a week and they are the staple for my diet. I'm going to try your method. I'm not bothered by the side-effects. I think I read that if you have a diet of beans for a number of months that your system 'adjusts'. Not sure if that's true, but I'm glad I can eat them. I just love beans!

    I was looking for an easy crockpot recipe and wouldn't you know, here it is!!!

    Thanks so much, Mike.

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