Vegan Red Kidney Bean Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why can't you boil red kidney beans? ›

When preparing dried red kidney beans, the FDA recommends soaking them overnight, then boiling them for a 30 minutes. Since most slow cookers do not reach the boiling point (212°F), beans prepared in them without soaking and cooking them first will carry the toxic lectin.

The haemagglutinin (lectin), which occurs naturally in the red kidney bean, is inactivated by thorough cooking of well soaked beans. In many of the outbreaks reported the implicated beans were consumed raw or following an inadequate heat process.

But I did find a study that tested these three ways to destroy the toxic hemagglutinin or lectin in some kidney beans that can lead to food poisoning: On the stove or in a slow cooker, soak kidney beans for at least five hours and cook them in fresh water. Make sure they are at a bubbling boil for at least 15 minutes.

Cover the beans with two cups of fresh water, add a bay leaf or two to the pot along with seasonings of your preference, and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for one to two hours, or until the beans reach your desired consistency. 3. Drain and serve.

The Toxin in Red Kidney Beans

The FDA's “Bad Bug Book” explains that the lectin phytohaemagglutinin has toxic effects in human when consumed in high levels. Red kidney beans have the highest levels of it. The unit to measure the toxins is called hemagglutinating unit (hau).

Eating large quantities of kidney beans can cause problems for bowel health and digestion. Some of the problems that can be caused include blocked intestines, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and gas. Getting too much of folate from the kidney beans is also harmful as it can increase the risk of cancer.

Cooking with moist heat can remove the toxicity of phytohaemagglutinin. Beans should be soaked and boiled thoroughly in fresh water (100°C). Beans should not be cooked at a low temperature, for example in a crock pot or slow cooker, since it may not destroy the toxin.

The good news is that the toxin can be deactivated by simply boiling the raw beans for ten minutes. This temperature degrades the toxin without cooking the beans. The FDA also recommends soaking the beans for five hours to remove any residual toxins and then tossing the water out.

Control of phosphorus often is difficult for kidney failure patients. High-phosphorus foods to eliminate include: Beans (red, black, and white) Black-eyed peas.

Canned beans are packed in a solution of water, salt, and starch. That solution can leave a glossy film on the beans, interfering with not only mouthfeel (slimy beans are a little off-putting), but also the ability of the beans to cling to other ingredients in the dish and absorb those flavors.

Can you boil kidney beans for 10 minutes? ›

Raw kidney beans contain the toxin phytohemagglutinin and must be boiled for 10 minutes to destroy it. Phytohemagglutinin is not lethal by any means, but may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and symptoms similar to food poisoning. Always boil kidney beans for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer until cooked.

Unless the recipe tells you to keep the canned beans in their liquid, you should drain your can and give the beans a good rinse before using. This will improve the flavor and texture of your finished dish. Open your cans of beans using a can opener. There may be sharp edges from opening the can.

Red kidney beans are poisonous if not boiled furiously for 20 mins during their initial cooking. The secret is never, ever to cook them in the water in which they have been soaked but to drain and then rinse them well before putting into fresh water. The soaking water absorbs much of the ingredient that upsets the gut.

If the water level drops below the beans, add more water so the beans are covered at all times. The beans are done cooking when they're all tender; you can test this as they by smooshing a bean or two against the side of the pot with a fork — it should collapse easily, but not be mushy.

Red kidney beans are poisonous if not boiled furiously for 20 mins during their initial cooking. The secret is never, ever to cook them in the water in which they have been soaked but to drain and then rinse them well before putting into fresh water. The soaking water absorbs much of the ingredient that upsets the gut.

If you boil, it won't be faster, just a lot more hassle. The water disappears, you stir a whole lot so things don't burn into the bottom, and risk to mush the outside of your beans while the inside's still rock-hard.

While higher temperatures might appear to speed up the process, boiling for an extended period of time will only cause the cooking liquid to evaporate faster than the dried beans can absorb it. As a result, skins can burst, affecting textures and making for a less than aesthetic batch of legumes.

On the stovetop, it takes between 45 and 90 minutes to cook kidney beans. However, depending on the soaking time and age of the beans, they may take less time to cook. They are finished cooking when they are tender and have a creamy texture. It's normal for some beans to split open while others maintain their shape.