The Bean Counter

[Metalcat]

@Dicey I mostly use dried beans but red kidney are one of the ones I buy canned. I have never yet made a decent batch from dried, and I prefer my guts uncramped so it is worth it to me.

I soak them for at least 8 hours and then obliterate them in the instant pot. They do not stay intact, but they're very digestible. I pretty much only use red kidney beans for curries, so the creamy texture of obliterated beans is usually better for that than the chewy canned ones.

But yeah, if you need your kidney bean to not be exploded, canned is definitely safer for not ruining the rest of your day with horrible cramps.

I always use canned cannellini beans, but only because a chef mentor of mine told me they were the one bean that is better canned. He's insane though, so I should probably actually test that theory. Amazing chef, but total froot loop.

[deborah]

I always cook with dry cannellini beans and I've never had a problem.

[dashuk]

Part way through 5kg sacks of chickpeas, carlin peas, and green lentils, plus more normal-sized packets of chana dal and yellow split peas.

Guessed 10-12kg total right now, although obviously when I last did an order it would have been well over 15kg.

For any Brits on the thread, particularly of an environmentally-motivated nature, all the above (except the chana dal) are UK grown via Hodmedods (https://hodmedods.co.uk/), who are doing good stuff in supporting farmers to grow more plant-based protein here. Chickpeas are from the first commercial crop to be grown in the UK.

We've also got canned kidney beans and baked beans in the house.

[APowers]

I am back up in my bean supplies! Now I have ~50lb, which should last me for 6 months or so.

[OtherJen]

I just ordered 25 lbs of beans and lentils. We're set for a while, even if we share some of them with my parents.

[meandmyfamily]

We are a large family and we eat beans every day.  We always have at least 25lbs and that was before covid.  We are now trying to stock up a bit more since we go through them so fast and they have been harder to find.

[firstmatedavy]

I already had a few recipes made from dry legumes before the virus, but now that I'm working from home (= more time to let things boil) and the local groceries are running low on meat, beans are my JAM. It turns out that most recipes involving meat and lots of flavorful sauce work well with some combination of different sized pulses (size variety for texture). I've also discovered that beef bullion is great for making not-meat fill in for meat, and red lentils make a good gravy if cooked long enough and combined with spices.

I've been buying the maximum allowed 2lbs each of black and pinto beans from Aldi when I go every couple weeks. My last run to the Indian grocery I got 4lbs chick peas, 4lbs lentils, and 10lbs brown rice - which is running out fast since I discovered rice and rasins makes a good breakfast. I used to ask my husband to get dry beans at the Food Lion occasionally, but they sold us bitter beans and ruined a huge pot of chili, so I probably won't buy there in the future.

I really enjoy cooking from dry goods. The food gets BIGGER as it cooks and it feels like magic.

I just hope the virus outbreaks at meat packing plants don't cause a dry beans shortage - i suspect some people are probably eating vegetarian more often because of that.

[K_in_the_kitchen]

These are best guesses, but should be fairy accurate:

50# red lentils
25# brown/green lentils
10# French green lentils
25# black beans
40# pinto beans
5# chickpeas/garbanzo beans
5# mixed beans
small amounts of green split peas and yellow split peas

So, definitely more than 160#

Also:
15# basmati rice
45# jasmine rice
5# sushi rice
90# rolled oats
15# quick oats
45# all-purpose flour
15# hard red wheat berries
40# hard white wheat berries
25# soft white wheat berries
18# gluten free flour
40# popping corn

I'm not a prepper, I just usually buy in bulk.  We are a family of 4 adults.

[Dicey]

These are best guesses, but should be fairy accurate:

50# red lentils
25# brown/green lentils
10# French green lentils
25# black beans
40# pinto beans
5# chickpeas/garbanzo beans
5# mixed beans
small amounts of green split peas and yellow split peas

So, definitely more than 160#

Also:
15# basmati rice
45# jasmine rice
5# sushi rice
90# rolled oats
15# quick oats
45# all-purpose flour
15# hard red wheat berries
40# hard white wheat berries
25# soft white wheat berries
18# gluten free flour
40# popping corn

I'm not a prepper, I just usually buy in bulk.  We are a family of 4 adults.

That's impressive! You're grinding your own wheat? Where do you do your bulk buying?

[K_in_the_kitchen]

These are best guesses, but should be fairy accurate:

50# red lentils
25# brown/green lentils
10# French green lentils
25# black beans
40# pinto beans
5# chickpeas/garbanzo beans
5# mixed beans
small amounts of green split peas and yellow split peas

So, definitely more than 160#

Also:
15# basmati rice
45# jasmine rice
5# sushi rice
90# rolled oats
15# quick oats
45# all-purpose flour
15# hard red wheat berries
40# hard white wheat berries
25# soft white wheat berries
18# gluten free flour
40# popping corn

I'm not a prepper, I just usually buy in bulk.  We are a family of 4 adults.

That's impressive! You're grinding your own wheat? Where do you do your bulk buying?

I mostly buy in bulk from Azure Standard, a west coast based co-op. I place my order online and meet the truck with a group of people who form a "drop". I also buy in bulk from Costco, or I did when I was still going to stores and before they starting selling out of everything. Even Azure has had inventory problems, but luckily I had a lot of dry goods before quarantine started. In late February Azure couldn't ship the oats I'd ordered, so I stocked up at Costco just in time -- a week later they were sold out.

I do grind my own flour, using a Nutrimill which is big and ugly but was also cheaper than the pretty grain mills.  Before I had the Nutrimill I would mill in a Vitamix, but its capacity is limited and I like to bake 3-4 loaves at a time, freezing the extras so I'm not baking constantly, so I saved up for the Nutrimill. Before that I had a friend who would grind wheat for me, so I've been using freshly ground whole wheat flour for 25 years now!. The Nutrimill can also grind other grains, including popcorn, and can also grind beans.

I like freshly ground whole wheat, especially the white whole wheat (hard white for yeasted baked goods, soft white for quick breads, cookies, etc.). Since whole wheat flour goes rancid quickly, I find it easier to store the wheat berries and grind them as needed.

[Dicey]

Thanks for the details! There is a Costco Business Center about 30 miles form me. I think I'll start buying a little more bulk product from them. My sister used to grind her own wheat, and I think she had the same grinder. She's GF now, so who knows what happened to it.

On another note, I had never thought about grinding popcorn! A little google sleuthing = mind blown! Something new to try. Thanks!

[K_in_the_kitchen]

Thanks for the details! There is a Costco Business Center about 30 miles form me. I think I'll start buying a little more bulk product from them. My sister used to grind her own wheat, and I think she had the same grinder. She's GF now, so who knows what happened to it.

On another note, I had never thought about grinding popcorn! A little google sleuthing = mind blown! Something new to try. Thanks!

The 50# popping corn I bought was actually a Covid intentional purchase -- I've never bought that much before.  But I figured we could pop it for snacks, and knew we could grind it for cornmeal mush and cornbread.

Maybe your sister can let you borrow her mill to try it out!  Some people do use them to grind gluten free, however, after running a batch of white rice through and cleaning all the rest of it thoroughly.

[Dicey]

Thanks for the details! There is a Costco Business Center about 30 miles form me. I think I'll start buying a little more bulk product from them. My sister used to grind her own wheat, and I think she had the same grinder. She's GF now, so who knows what happened to it.

On another note, I had never thought about grinding popcorn! A little google sleuthing = mind blown! Something new to try. Thanks!

The 50# popping corn I bought was actually a Covid intentional purchase -- I've never bought that much before.  But I figured we could pop it for snacks, and knew we could grind it for cornmeal mush and cornbread.

Maybe your sister can let you borrow her mill to try it out!  Some people do use them to grind gluten free, however, after running a batch of white rice through and cleaning all the rest of it thoroughly.

Alas, my sister lives some distance away and my county is still on complete SIP orders, so it's not going to happen any time soon. Knowing her, she sold it or gave it to a friend when she went GF and mostly stopped baking. She had four boys and baked to keep them fed on a budget. Now that they're up and out, I think she's just over it, lol.

[blue_green_sparks]

Made a pot of Anasazi bean and roasted veggie chile and melted in a few squares of dark chocolate. I would describe it as 'Luxuriously Delicious', served with a chunk of homemade sourdough bread. 

[blue_green_sparks]

I mostly buy in bulk from Azure Standard, a west coast based co-op.....

Thanks  K_in_SoCal , They have a drop in my hometown !!! Just signed up. Love this forum !

[Sugaree]

How do most of you cook your dry beans?  In the past, I always soaked and boiled the heck out of them.

But last Christmas I receive a pressure cooker. I cannot believe how easy and how well it cooks all the beans I have tried. Also, I actually made a southwestern black bean recipe in the cooker. Came out excellent. Have been eating them as a side and also in tortillas.

Every couple of weeks I run a batch or two in the pressure canner.  They cook in the jars and I end up with ready-to-use beans.  I've run the ROI on it and it's not great unless you're buying dried beans in very large amounts, but it does help with my lack of storage space thing.

[APowers]

I mostly buy in bulk from Azure Standard, a west coast based co-op.....

Thanks  K_in_SoCal , They have a drop in my hometown !!! Just signed up. Love this forum !

I'm not west-coast anymore, but +1 for Azure.

[blue_green_sparks]

I overestimate when I throw dried beans in the pot ;). We end up having beans for the next two meals as well.

[LetItGrow]

Since this was bumped up I added our middle of the pack amount. Lots and lots of lentils are used in the household, with just a few handfuls of various other dried beans.

[dividend]

I've got ~30 pounds, plus about 10 2-cup containers with frozen cooked beans.  I joined the Rancho Gordo Bean Club 2 years ago, and it's been a delight. I also order different varieties of field peas from Camellia about once a year.  According to my spreadsheet, I've cooked 72 different bean dishes this year, and I average about 30 pounds in the pantry.  I've tried some awesome recipes that have become staples of our diet.   

Sent from my Pixel 4 using Tapatalk

[cooking]

only about 5-6 lbs.