How to cook beans or pulses in a pressure cooker

A comprehensive table of beans & pulses together with soaking and pressure cooking times and pressures.

Use this basic guide if you do not have a specific recipe

Pick through the beans and discard any discoloured beans or loose skins
Soak in cold water for a minimum of the time shown, soaking overnight is usually the best way to achieve this
Change soaking water a few times if possible
Never cook the beans in the water they were soaked in
Rinse the beans well at the end of the soaking period
Ensure the pressure cooker is at least a quarter full
Never fill the pressure cooker more than half full
Always cover the beans with at least 5 cm (2") water
Add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil to the water - this reduces foaming
Allow the pressure cooker to get to the required pressure and then begin timing
Use the specified pressure release method - this is the natural method in the case of dried beans or pulses
A bean is usually perfectly cooked when it can be easily squashed between your forefinger and thumb
If the beans are not sufficiently cooked, return to pressure, cook for another 3 minutes and allow the pressure to reduce using the natural method.
Re-check that the beans are cooked to your liking.

Type of Bean	Cold Water Soak Time (minimum)	Pressure Cooking Time	Cooking Pressure High=15 psi Med=10 psi Low=5 psi:	Pressure Release Method
Dried Azuki (red) beans	None	8 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Black beans	4 hours	12 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Black urad beans	None	7 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Black eyed peas	None	10 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Borlotti beans	4 hours	7 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Broad beans	8 hours	4 minutes	Medium	Natural
Dried Butter beans	8 hours	4 minutes	Medium	Natural
Dried Chickpeas	8 hours	25 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Faba beans, Dried (Fava beans)	8 hours	4 minutes	Medium	Natural
Dried Lentils or Split peas	None	7 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Lima beans	8 hours	4 minutes	Medium	Natural
Dried Mung beans (green)	4 hours	9 minutes	Low	Natural
Dried Pinto or mottled beans	4 hours	12 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Red kidney beans	4 hours	12 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Mung beans (red)	4 hours	9 minutes	Low	Natural
Dried Shell beans	4 hours	10 minutes	High	Natural
Snap, string or runner beans	None	4 minutes	Low	Cold water release
Dried Soya bean	8 hours	35 minutes	High	Natural
Dried White or cannellini beans	4 hours	12 minutes	High	Natural
Dried White urad beans	None	7 minutes	High	Natural
Dried Yellow or Peruano beans	4 hours	10 minutes	High	Natural

See also