How to tell if kidney beans are cooked or not?
Kidney beans are a common vegetable that is rich in nutrients and delicious. However, if not cooked, it may contain toxins and cause harm to human health. Therefore, it is important to determine whether the kidney beans are cooked. This article details how to tell if your kidney beans are cooked and provides some practical tips.
1. Standards for cooking kidney beans

The standards for cooked kidney beans mainly include three aspects: color, taste and smell. The following is the specific judgment method:
| Judgment criteria | Unripe kidney beans | cooked kidney beans |
|---|---|---|
| color | Darker color, greenish or yellowish | The color becomes lighter and appears bright green or yellow |
| Taste | The texture is hard and feels astringent when chewing. | Soft texture, no astringency when chewing |
| smell | Has the fishy smell of raw beans | Has a light bean flavor |
2. Specific methods to determine whether kidney beans are cooked
1.observe color: Cooked kidney beans will lighten in color, from dark green or yellow to bright green or yellow. If there is no noticeable change in the color of the kidney beans, they may not be cooked yet.
2.taste: Take a small piece of kidney beans and taste them. If they are soft and not astringent, it means they are cooked. If it tastes hard or astringent, you need to continue cooking.
3.smell: Cooked kidney beans will exude a light bean aroma, while uncooked kidney beans will have a fishy smell of raw beans.
4.poke with chopsticks: Use chopsticks to gently poke the kidney beans. If they can be easily pierced, it means they are cooked. If it doesn’t move when poked or requires force, it’s not cooked yet.
3. Things to note when cooking kidney beans
1.Fully soaked: It is best to soak kidney beans in water for 2-3 hours before cooking. This can shorten the cooking time and make the kidney beans easier to cook.
2.Control the heat: When cooking kidney beans, first bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer slowly to prevent the kidney beans from becoming cooked on the outside and raw on the inside.
3.Do not add alkali: Some people like to add alkali when cooking kidney beans, thinking that this can speed up the cooking process. But in fact, adding alkali will destroy the nutrients in kidney beans, so it is not recommended.
4.Eat immediately after cooking: It is best to eat cooked kidney beans promptly and avoid long-term storage to avoid deterioration.
4. Nutritional value of kidney beans
Kidney beans are rich in protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, making them a nutrient-rich vegetable. Here are the main nutrients in kidney beans:
| Nutritional information | Content (per 100g) |
|---|---|
| protein | 6.0g |
| dietary fiber | 3.4 grams |
| Vitamin C | 12 mg |
| Calcium | 50 mg |
| iron | 1.5 mg |
5. Common ways to make kidney beans
Kidney beans can be cooked in a variety of ways, including stir-frying, stewing, boiling, and cold dressing. Here are a few common practices:
1.Stir-fried kidney beans: Wash and cut the kidney beans into sections, stir-fry in oil until cooked, add salt and minced garlic to taste.
2.Kidney Bean Stew with Potatoes: Cut the kidney beans and potatoes into cubes, simmer them together until soft, then add seasonings.
3.Kidney Bean Salad: Boil the kidney beans and pour them into cold water. Add minced garlic, soy sauce, vinegar and other seasonings and mix well.
4.Stir-fried Pork with Kidney Beans: Stir-fry the kidney beans and meat slices together, then add seasonings.
6. Summary
Determining whether kidney beans are cooked is mainly done by observing the color, tasting the texture, smelling the smell and poking with chopsticks. When cooking kidney beans, pay attention to fully soaking them, controlling the heat, not adding alkali, and eating them promptly after cooking. Kidney beans are rich in nutrients and can be cooked in various ways. They are a healthy and delicious vegetable.
I hope this article can help you better determine whether the kidney beans are cooked and enjoy delicious and healthy kidney bean dishes!
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