Can You Microwave Kidney Beans?

There are many reasons why beans are popular in different cuisines. They’re versatile, taste great, and are high in nutrition.

Chances are you know and love the red kidney bean, even if you haven’t heard of all the other varieties.

After a long day of work, no one wants to cook it for an hour, so many people will use the microwave. Is it safe, though? The long answer is no.

Kidney Beans

Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Microwave Kidney Beans

If you don’t get rid of the chemical called PHA, it can make you sick. 

Most beans have low concentrations of PHA and the usual overnight soaking and short boiling time render them harmless.

If not handled correctly, PHA can cause food poisoning with nasty symptoms like vomiting, abdominal cramping, and in extreme cases, hospitalization, if dehydration is present. 

The good news is that PHA can be removed from beans through proper care and handling.

It’s important to remember that they need to be cooked at a high enough temperature and long enough to get rid of the chemical in them to make them safe to eat.

This can be done in the oven or on the stovetop.

Microwave cooking can be very convenient, but it doesn’t heat at a high enough temperature to inactivate PHA and it doesn’t allow for even cooking.

The beans you end up with are more toxic than raw, uncooked beans.

Best Way to Cook Red Kidney Beans? 

You can have a safe, delicious bean casserole bubbling away on your stove in no time if you follow these steps.

  • For a minimum of 8 hours, you should soak the beans.
  • Allow them to be drained. The soaking water should not be reused.
  • Put them in a pot of cold water.
  • For at least 45 minutes, boil for 10 minutes, and then cook.
  • If the beans are soft, they’re ready to eat. Keep them simmering until they’re done.
  • Do not be tempted to shorten the cooking time.

Don’t be alarmed, this may be the first time you’ve heard of PHA. There are no problems with people eating the beans.

If you follow the steps above, you will have perfectly safe red kidney beans to enjoy for dinner.

How Can I Steam Fresh Green Beans in a Microwave?

Green beans can be made into a delicious and healthy side dish. I love it when they are in season and can be found at the farmer’s market.

You know your money is going to support local producers when it’s cheap, fresh, and you know it!

It’s easy to microwave raw green beans, you just need to make sure that they retain their flavor and texture, no one wants over-cooked green beans!

It is easy to steam them in the microwave rather than boiling them.

If vegetables are cooked directly in boiling water, they can lose their texture and nutrients, which can be lost if you steam them.

Procedure

Place the steamer basket into the microwave-safe dish, add the water and trimmed green beans, and cover the container to let the steam escape.

You need to microwave the beans until the water is boiling and the bowl is full of steam.

It needs to boil continuously for 3 minutes, and then be left for at least 1 minute with the lid on to allow the beans to finish cooking.

How Long Is It Possible to Microwave Green Beans?

The amount of time you need to microwave the beans depends on the power of the microwave.

The times in the recipe are perfect for my 1000W microwave, so if you have a lower wattage you may need to increase the times a bit.

Kidney Beans

Storage and Reheating

Use the leftover microwaved green beans within 3 days if you store them in the refrigerator.

If you want to microwave the beans, place them in a microwave-safe bowl, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap, and microwave for a few minutes.

When it’s piping hot, microwave on high for around one minute.

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