Instant Pot Black Beans - Learn how to EASILY make PERFECT black beans in an Instant Pot in just ONE hour! Substitute these superior tasting homemade black beans in any recipe that calls for canned black beans including soups, chili, casseroles, burritos, tacos, or your favorite Mexican recipes!
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time40 minutesmins
Additional Time15 minutesmins
Total Time1 hourhr
Course: Instant Pot
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: black beans in Instant Pot, cooking black beans in Instant Pot, dried black beans Instant Pot, dry black beans Instant Pot, how long to cook black beans in Instant Pot, how to make black beans in an Instant Pot, Instant Pot black beans, Instant Pot black beans recipe, Instant Pot dry black beans
Servings: 7cups
Calories: 139kcal
Author: Averie Sunshine
Ingredients
1pounddry black beanssorted and rinsed; soaking 4 hours or overnight recommended*
5cupswater
½white or yellow onioncut into chunky 2-inch pieces
3clovesgarlicfinely minced
2bay leaves
1tablespoonsaltor to taste
1jalapenohalved; optional
Cilantrooptiona for seving
Queso frescooptional for serving
Instructions
To a 6 -quart Instant Pot or similar type of pressure cooker, add the beans, water, onion, garlic, bay leaves, salt, optional jalapeno (halve it lengthwise and add as much or as little as you want from 1/4 of it to all of it, remove the seeds for less heat) stir to combine, and affix the lid.
Select the Bean button and set the time to 40 minutes. Notes - If you do not have a Bean button, it could be also labeled as Chili. If you don't have that, simply select High Pressure and cook for 40 minutes. All brands of pressure cookers and models within the Instant Pot brand vary slightly so use the mode that best fits what your machine has. It takes awhile for the machine to build up pressure and actually start “cooking”. In the case of high pressure cooking such as the “bean mode”, at least 10 minutes so don’t be surprised.
When the time has finished, allow a slow release for 15 minutes.
Then do a quick release. Note - When releasing the steam, make sure to wrap a kitchen towel over the lid on the machine and/or use hot mitts on your hands because the steam that escapes is incredibly hot and can burn you.
Test a few beans to make sure they are done. If they are tender and done, great. If they are at all hard, they need to cook longer.**
If you need to cook the beans longer, you will need to add more water, probably 1 to 2 cups more.***
When the beans are done, remove the bay leaves.
Optionally remove the onions and jalapeno if you used it, but I leave them in for extra flavor.
Serve as desired or use the beans in any recipe that calls for canned black beans. Cilantro and queso fresco are optional but if eating them plain and not incorporating the black beans into another recipe, they are great garnishes. Beans will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Tip - Store them in small to medium-sized containers sprayed with cooking spray to make the thawing process easier and to ensure the beans don't stick.
Notes
*I recommend soaking the beans overnight, or for at least 4 hours, rinsing them again, and draining them. This helps them cook quicker and more evenly in the Instant Pot. If you do not soak them, it's possible you will have to cook them 10 to 15 minutes additionally, after the first 40 minutes.**They will probably need an extra 10 to 15 minutes on the Bean setting again, but it will vary based on how underdone they were. Again, this is why soaking your beans ahead of time is recommended to reduce cooking time and guesswork here. Then do a quick release and repeat if necessary. If there is minimal water remaining but the beans aren't done, add 1 to 2 cups additional water because the beans need to absorb moisture in order to cook and soften. ***The amount of water or liquid remaining should be minimal when the beans are done - very slightly wet and just enough to keep them saucy, but not tons of excess. If there is, but the beans are done, fish the beans out using a slotted spoon.