[Forsynthianicki]

To cook beans from dry, I rinse the beans and put them in the cooker and then add water (1 cup dry beans = 3 cups water, sometimes I make a double batch) and a little salt. Put on the lid and wait for a steady stream of steam to come out of the top then put on my weight (does it have a real name?). As soon as it builds up pressure and begins to rock I turn the heat down (on my stove medium low maintains pressure) and set my timer for 45 minutes. Pull it off the stove and let it cool until it loses pressure (usually takes 15 minutes or so depending on the temp of the kitchen) Smaller beans take a little less time and larger beans take a little more time. I'll be honest....I am not as pleased when I cook them this way as I am when I allow them to soak or even quick soak them first. They seem to cook a little more unevenly with some beans a little softer and other more firm- I don't know why that is. To quick soak the beans, I start them the same but as soon as they come to a boil I turn off the stove and let them sit there for an hour. After they have sat, I just turn the heat back to high and cook the same as above for less time, around 20 min give or take.

I love making refried beans in the cooker, I make as above but add a few cloves of garlic and sometimes some chopped onion and then let it cook a few minutes longer to make the beans a little softer then mix it together using an immersion blender. With homemade tortillas- yum!