Cooking With Beans

Which Are Better: Canned or Dried Beans?

If dinner has to be on the table in 20 minutes, canned beans win hands down. Dried beans require prep; they need to be soaked and cooked before you can use them in a recipe. But what they lack in convenience, dried beans make up for in taste and texture; they tend to have a brighter flavor and a firmer consistency. They’re also lower in sodium; however, rinsing and draining canned beans can reduce their salt content significantly. As for price? A cup of canned beans costs about 69 cents; a cup of cooked dried beans, about 24 cents. Bottom line: Whichever type you choose, you’re getting a healthy bargain.