Misc Beans

[kyrsyan]

Just an idea to share. We use a lot of beans. I've gotten tired of paying more to buy cans of organic beans just so they don't have all the excess ingredients that canned beans don't need. At the same time, I really don't want to stand over a canner once a month to put up enough bean for us to us in a month. And yes, it would be a full canner load or two. Not to mention the lids, or wear and tear on the Tattler/Harvest Guard lids.

And most of the time, I don't have the time to start beans cooking in time to make the dinner meal.

But lately, the cans of beans purchase are 1/4 to 1/2 empty, filled with fluid. And that is just my POed and done point. When I have to buy even more, at higher prices, to get the same amount. I was having to double the number of cans used in the recipes.

So I started two things. Once a month, I insta-pot enough beans to make whatever that days meal is, and put enough for 3 or 4 meals in the freezer. I tried it once. It worked. That is the main pathway for now. The packs can be worked in the nooks and crannies.

Number two was I ordered two small crockpots, 1.5 quarts. One reason for them was to make my long brew chai, and another pot of mulled pear cider. But if needed, I can use these for cooking small amounts, including things like beans. These are not Little Dippers or potpourri crock pots. These are actual crockpots in small size. Oh, and I could use them to do small batches of stock after having small chicken dinners. Rather than trying to save up enough bones for the larger crockpot.

Anyways, figured I'd share for anyone else that might be able to use the idea.

 

[Carl2]

Thank you for the tip about small crock pots, kyrsyan. I do the same batch cooking, including for rice. As a child, sometimes I was tasked to check the beans for rocks before Mother cooked them -- and I still do, except for Black Turtle beans. Breaking a tooth is painful and costly!

 

[kyrsyan]

Thank you for the tip about small crock pots, kyrsyan. I do the same batch cooking, including for rice. As a child, sometimes I was tasked to check the beans for rocks before Mother cooked them -- and I still do, except for Black Turtle beans. Breaking a tooth is painful and costly!

The 1.5 quart crockpots are on pre-Black Friday sale at Best Buy for $6 each.

And after the last few years, I've found those sales to be better discounts than the ones that will start at the end of the month.

And yeah, breaking teeth is expensive.

 

[nomifyle]

A year or so ago I did the same thing, two 1.5 quart crock pots to do basically the same. I have good ideas but never seem to get around to doing what I planned to do.

 

[kyrsyan]

A year or so ago I did the same thing, two 1.5 quart crock pots to do basically the same. I have good ideas but never seem to get around to doing what I planned to do.

Time and energy are things.

But I already put time and energy into these things. I'd just like to reclaim some countertop space. And not have a larger crockpot going when a smaller one will work.

I'm also looking at the crockpot dividers for when I want to do separate things that need the same times and temps. Right now my "small" crockpot holds 4 quarts. My large, 8 quarts. They have their place and uses but they take up a lot of countertop space.

 

[FREEBIRD]

I've got one of those little crockpots and do beans in them when I don't want a huge amount. Works well.

 

[kyrsyan]

So far I've been loving them. I can grab a cup of hot chai anytime. Son can have mulled pear cider anytime. I'll dig deeper into more things to do with them as the month goes on. Turns out I have some venison roasts that would actually fit in them.

 

[packyderms_wife]

How do you like your mini crock pot? I have one of those 1.5 quarter crock pots and even on low it burns everything!