Dried beans naturally contain a substance called lectins, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Therefore, always remember to rinse the beans thoroughly and soak them for 10-12 hours before cooking, as soaking and cooking destroys the harmful lectins. Discard the soaking water, rinse the beans well and cook in fresh water. However, the cooking time for beans (about 1 hour) can vary depending on size, type and age. When the beans are tender, stop cooking and drain the beans, they are now ready to use.
