Instant Pot Black Beans (Soaked and dried)

Close-up of cooked black beans in a white bowl, garnished with fresh basil leaves, placed on a soft white fabric background.

Instant Pot Black Beans (Soaked and dried)

5 from 5 votes

Learn how to cook Instant Pot black beans using soaked or dried beans with this simple, kitchen-tested method. These soft, flavorful beans are perfect for quick meals like rice bowls, salads, and easy curries.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings

Author Sravanthi Chanda

Ingredients

1 cup black beans dried
3 cups water Use 2 cups water for soaked black beans
½ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Soak the black beans for 8 hours or overnight. Soaking is optional, but I usually prefer it for a better texture.
Rinse the soaked or dried black beans a couple of times and add them to the Instant Pot inner pot.
1 cup black beans
Add water, salt, and any flavoring ingredients. Close the lid and seal the vent.
½ teaspoon salt, 3 cups water
Select Manual / Pressure Cook (High):
Soaked beans: 8 minutes for firmer beans, 9 to 10 minutes for softer beans
Dried beans: 25 minutes for firmer beans and 30 minutes for softer beans.
Once the cooking cycle is complete, let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then release any remaining pressure. You can also allow a full natural pressure release.
The beans are now ready to use. You can strain them or use them along with the cooking liquid, depending on your recipe.

Notes

Tested Tips from My Kitchen

- Use 3 cups of water to soak 1 cup of dried black beans.
- If soaking for more than 12 hours, change the water once and keep the soaking time under 18 hours to avoid fermentation.
- And if you soak the beans for a longer time, reduce the pressure cooking time by 1 or 2 minutes.
- If you cannot cook immediately, drain and refrigerate the soaked beans. They stay fresh for 1–2 days.
- For stovetop pressure cooking, cook for 4 whistles (about 15 minutes).
- This recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
- Soaked beans may lose some color, but I still prefer soaking for better texture.

Nutrition