Perfect Instant Pot Black Beans

Bowl of black beans with slivers of red onion and minced jalapeño.

This recipe includes instructions for cooking dried black beans in the Instant Pot both with and without soaking the beans first. It also includes instructions for a basic recipe and for seasoned beans.

Course Any

Cuisine Any

Keyword instant pot black beans

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 30

Natural release 25

Total Time 1

Servings

Calories 123.5kcal

Author Susan Pridmore

Equipment

Instant Pot
Colander

Ingredients

Pre-Soaking Black Beans (optional)

1 cup dried black beans
6 cups water
1 tablespoon kosher salt (or 1 ½ teaspoons table salt)

Basic Instant Pot Black Beans

1 cup dried black beans
1 teaspoon kosher salt (or ½ teaspoon table salt)
3 cups water
1 head of garlic with the tops sliced off (optional)
1 dried Ancho pepper (optional)

Seasoned Instant Pot Black Beans

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1 dried Ancho pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup dried black beans
3 cups water

Instructions

Pre-Soaking Black Beans (optional)

Place the dried beans in a medium pot and cover with about two inches of water (about 6 cups). Add the salt and bring the water to a boil.
Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature or lukewarm. Drain in a colander and rinse well.

Basic Instant Pot Black Beans

Rinse. Rinse the beans well in a colander and add them to the inner pot of an Instant Pot (or other electric pressure cooker). Add the water, salt, garlic, and dried ancho chile (if using).
Cook. Seal the pressure cooker and select the time based on whether the beans are pre-soaked or unsoaked:
For pre-soaked beans: Cook the beans for 10 minutes using HIGH pressure followed by a 5-minute natural release.
For unsoaked black beans: Cook the beans for 30 minutes using HIGH pressure, and perform a natural release. A complete natural release takes approximately 20 - 25 minutes.

Seasoned Instant Pot Black Beans

Rinse. Rinse the beans well in a colander and set aside.
Sauté seasoning. Select the SAUTE function on your electric pressure cooker with MEDIUM heat. Add the olive oil to the inner pot of your cooker and sauté the garlic, Ancho chile pepper, oregano, onion powder, and salt for 5 minutes until very aromatic.
Add beans. Add the beans to the inner pot and add 3 cups of water. Switch to the MANUAL function. (You may need to turn your pressure cooker off first to do this.) Seal the pressure cooker.
Cook. Select the time based on whether the beans are pre-soaked or unsoaked:
For pre-soaked beans: Cook the beans for 10 minutes using HIGH pressure followed by a 5-minute natural release.
For unsoaked black beans: Cook the beans for 30 minutes using HIGH pressure, and perform a natural release. A complete natural release takes approximately 20 - 25 minutes.
Drain. Drain the beans into a colander and discard any leftover broth, the garlic and chile pepper.

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