Instant Pot Black Beans

We love our Instant Pot for cooking beans!!

With the right cooking times & methods, the Instant Pot Beans come out consistently perfectly cooked – tender & creamy but not broken or mushy-soggy. And only in just a fraction of cooking time! Plus, no soaking required – so no need to plan & prep ahead. 😀

So time for some “Mr. IP Beans” experiment to find the foolproof way to cook dried black beans from scratch in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker!

What are Black Beans?

Black beans, aka “turtle beans” or “black turtle beans”, are small shiny black-colored legumes. They taste dense, meaty, earthy, wholesome, hearty & creamy on the inside when perfectly cooked.

They are commonly used in vegetarian dishes & soups, and especially popular in Latin American, Mexican, and Cuban cuisines. In fact, they have become a cultural staple in South America!

Black beans are low cost, super filling, health-boosting powerhouses. They are a very good source of low-fat protein, fiber, antioxidants, and are great for our digestive tract. 🙂

How to Buy and Store Black Beans?

Make sure the black beans are whole & not cracked, dry & not moist, fresh & not old or stale.

Best to store the black beans in a dry, cool, and dark place in a sealed container.

Time to cook Black Beans in Instant Pot Pressure Cooker!

Instant Pot Black Beans Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Prepare Ingredients for Instant Pot Black Beans.

Rinse black beans under cold water. Pick out any stones or debris. Drain well.

*Pro Tip – Use Fresh Dry Beans: Although beans have a relatively long shelf life, older beans may take a much longer cooking time to be softened. Sometimes the black beans can get so old & stale (even on store shelves) that they won’t cook properly even after long cooking time. So best to use fresh dry beans if possible.

Saute Onion in Instant Pot

Heat up Instant Pot using “Sauté More” function.

*Tip: For older versions – press “Saute” button, then “Adjust” button. For newer versions – press “Saute” button twice.

Wait until it says “HOT” (takes roughly 8 minutes). 

Add 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil in Instant Pot.

Add in chopped onions, then saute for 3 minutes.

Add Spice & Garlic

Add in 1 tsp (2.7g) ground cumin, 1 tsp (0.6g) oregano, and 3 bay leaves.

Saute for another minute.

Add in minced garlic, then saute for 30 seconds.

Deglaze Instant Pot

Pour 1 cup (250ml) unsalted stock in Instant Pot, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon.

Give it a quick mix.

Pressure Cook Black Beans

Add in 1 lb (454g) black beans and ½ tsp coarse kosher salt (fine salt will also work).

*Pro Tip: Adding salt to the black beans will not make it tough 🙂

Pour in 5 ½ cups (1.25L) unsalted chicken stock, then give it a quick mix.

With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position.

• Pressure Cooking Method: High Pressure 50 minutes + Natural Release 20 minutes

After 20 minutes, release the remaining pressure by turning Venting Knob to Venting Position.

When Floating Valve drops, open the lid carefully.

Seasonings

The black beans in Instant Pot should be done. Taste and season with more salt.

*Pro Tip: For reference, 3 – 4 large pinches of salt will work the best based on our testings.

Serve Instant Pot Black Beans

You can serve the Instant Pot Black Beans as a tasty side dish for tacos, enchiladas, burritos, or over rice with your favorite toppings.

Or, you can serve this Black Beans Recipe as an ultra-simple Black Beans Soup.

*Pro Tip: If you want to serve this pressure cooker Black Beans Recipe as a soup, boil the black beans in Instant Pot (using the “Saute High” function) for another 4 – 5 minutes. This will add some more body to the black beans soup. Stir occasionally. 

Garnish your instapot black beans with chopped cilantro, then you are ready to serve! 🙂

Enjoy your Instant Pot Black Beans!~ 🙂

Tools for Instant Pot Black Beans

• Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker
• Wooden Spoon

More Instant Pot Beans Recipes You’ll Love

Instant Pot Refried Beans

Instant Pot Chili