In the debate over canned versus dried beans there are benefits to both; since they are already cooked, canned beans can be eaten straight away. On the other hand, dried beans take a lot of time and preparation to make but some recipes absolutely require them. Depending on what you’re making, you may be better off with one versus the other. Use this guide to determine which one you’ll need next time you go to the grocery store.
Hummus
Canned beans actually work better if you decide to make hummus. Because they’ve already been cooked, they’re super soft, an absolute necessity when making hummus. If you go with dried and they’re not cooked enough, you’ll have chalky hummus.
Stews
Stews like the Italian pasta e fagoli, or beans and pasta, need dried beans. Anytime you’re cooking something over a number of hours, using dried beans will make sure the flavor is absorbed but that the beans don’t turn out too mushy.
Falafel
A great skill to have is knowing how to make at falafel at home, and for this, you’ll need dried beans. The reason is that falafel needs to hold its shape when fried and using canned chickpeas will make the mixture too soft and won’t hold up.
