Question for *******

[Theadyn]

Okay bean lovers..  I have a stupid question for you. 

I can't seem to wrap my head around how you guys are able to cook beans without using a ton of fuel.  Are you not cooking them from dried beans?   Are you cooking them outside over a campfire and cooking them a long time?   Or are you using canned?   Even lentils, one of my faves, takes at least 30 minutes when I'm at home, and that's with softened water.

And rice, that's another one.  Are you all using just minute rice?  I like the real kind, but it even that takes a while to cook.  With summer coming I don't want to be cooking something forever inside the van.   But I do like beans and rice dishes, healthy and cheap.  

What am I missing?  Would thermal cooking make this easier?  Is instant and canned the way to go while on the road and want a cheap easy meal?

Sorry for the dumb questions, but this has been bothering me for a while, I'm afraid, lol.   (dodges the flying tomatoes)

 

[ccbreder]

Back packing, I used lentils, they cook fast. Now I use canned beans. I use microwavable whole grain brown rice, frozen steam in bag. I have seen frozen cooked beans from Hanover, but have not tried them.

 

[cyndi]

I cook both rice and beans, separately or together, in a thermos. I start them in the morning and they're ready by dinner. I always soak dried beans overnight.

And I use canned beans, too. It just depends on how much forethought I put into a meal.

 

[mockturtle]

I also use canned beans. While not as cheap as dried, they are still a good value. When I have electricity, which is seldom, I use my rice cooker to make a big batch of brown rice. I freeze some of it in small zip-lock bags. When I have no shore power for long periods, I skip the rice and use tortillas or pancakes. A pancake topped with chili, a little cheese and a dollop of yogurt is a wonderful meal!

 

[skyl4rk]

There is instant brown rice, which cooks in less than 10 minutes. A few days ago, I left instant brown rice and water in a pan and did not cook it. Came back a few hours later and it was fully expanded and tasted great, no heat needed.

 

[Free Range Chicken]

Maybe use pressure cookers? Though it makes cleaning more time and water consuming. I pre soak beans overnight. That cuts some cooking time. I also presoak chickpeas, I'd like to hear if if anyone have pre soaked lentils.

 

[Reducto]

As much as I love homemade refried beans it's just not practical to use propane or electricity from a generator to cook them. Canned beans and instant rice are the way to go.

Thermos cooking lentils should be doable. Solar cooking beans is also an option in summer.

 

[Almost There]

How much power do the 12v crock pots take?

Would it be practical to use one of them for beans and/or rice?

 

[GotSmart]

A 12 v cooker is a great thing as long as you have a lot of solar, or battery storage.  If you are driving it will run on power you would not be using.  One thing to remember is in cooking it throws off heat.  

I use "instant" rice in mine, or if I was to do beans I would soak them over night, then put them in hot water to start the cooking process.  

 

[akrvbob]

I've carried and cooked them in a pressure cooker and it works really well. About 40 minutes of cook time; about 20 minutes on high to get it up to full pressure and then 20 minutes on low to maintain the pressure, and they are done perfectly!

I didn't use the pressure cooker enough to justify carrying it so I gave it away.
Bob

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

Theadyn, Free Range Chicken, and Bob; YES for pressure cookers but (especially for boondockers) PRE_SOAKING IS A MUST. Except for lentils ....no presoaking needed.
I cook pinto beans, garbanzos and lentils almost weekly.
Pinto's and garbanzos soak 1 cup of beans in 2 1/2 cup water overnight. Bring up pressure and cook :
Pintos 6 minutes !!!
Garbanzos 8 1/2 minutes
Lentils (no pre-soak) 3 minutes
After the above times, remove cooker from heat and let pressure fall on it's own.
  Once I discovered how easy/quick the pressure cooker is with beans it really changed how often I eat them.
KinA
P.S And let me know when you're passing thru Anaheim and I'll tell ya where you can get pintos for 50 cents/pound.

P.P.S. Oh yeah, also chicken breasts from completely frozen to cooked in 17 min. (Cool off cooker by dunking in a pan of water.)

 

[highdesertranger]

if burn bans are in effect I use canned beans, if not dutch oven over a fire. for rice I use uncle bens, takes more fuel than minute rice but less than other rice's. I always cook outside unless it's cold, then I cook inside. a tip on the canned refried beans cook in a skillet and add a little butter, stirring a lot, makes a world of difference. highdesertranger

 

[LeeRevell]

If your van is facing the sun, place the pan with instant rice and water on the dash. It will hydrate and get nicely warmed! No fuel used. Works for instant oatmeal and grits too.

 

[Theadyn]

Lots of great replies, thank you guys!!

I've only begun reading about thermal cooking, very interesting. Instant and toss it on dash for a while sounds good, too. I don't have a pressure cooker to experiment with, yet, but will definitely be keeping my eyes open for one at thrift stores.

Keep the replies coming.

 

[akrvbob]

Be careful of pressure cookers. During WW II they stopped making them and after the war lots of companies made crap ones for a quick buck and they literally blew up!! Gave pressure cookers a bad name for a long time.

Buy either an old one, pre wwII, but with a new seal, or a new one. Rival makes great units at a great price. Make sure you get the "rattle" attachement for the top.

I have a friend who lives on a bike and he has a tiny pressure cooker, I think it is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MPQH58/ref=psdc_289825_t2_B00EYZTDMI

It's really hard to find a small one which a single person must have, that one above has great reviews!
Bob

 

[Theadyn]

Thanks Bob!! I've had a healthy fear of them for some reason, that is probably why. Will try to find a small one, probably new, if I got that route.

 

[cdiggy]

I have a friend who lives on a bike and he has a tiny pressure cooker, I think it is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002MPQH58/ref=psdc_289825_t2_B00EYZTDMI

It's really hard to find a small one which a single person must have, that one above has great reviews!
Bob

Shame that it is aluminum. Perfect size but I don't do aluminum any more. Links to Alzheimer's scares me. It's a hell of a way to go. Wish there was a stainless option.

 

[akrvbob]

Here is a 3 liter stainless steel. 3 liter is a pretty good size.
http://www.amazon.com/Prestige-Deluxe-Stainless-Pressure-3-Liter/dp/B003XCNHHK/

One thing a pressure cooker does well is take a poor cut of meat like a cheap roast, and have it come out falling-apart tender. This would be the perfect size for a small roast.
Bob

 

[cdiggy]

Thanks bob! Also found this guy...
http://www.wayfair.com/Prestige-Coo...s-Steel-Pressure-Cooker-PDSSPC2-PTGE1001.html
In a 2.11 qt (2 liter???) I did not realize all the options out there. Saw some anodized nonstick cookers as well. Without actually seeing it in person it is hard to tell if they are well made or not.

 

[ccbreder]

Especially easy in a small pot. Be careful over filling a pressure cooker. The majority exploded ones were because the contents boiled up and plugged the steam release. Also be sure no pressure when opening.