Sort and rinse beans

[ukbb]

When a recipe states this what am I looking for when I sort them? Rocks? Ugly looking beans?

UKBB

[keeperofthehome]

rocks, dirt, ugly beans, etc. You are exactly right.

[guest002]

Yep. Dried beans aren't washed before bagging and you can find tiny rocks and dirt in there.

[cheles2kids]

Yep, I third the agreement, I also take out any split beans as well.

Just a side note: After soaking my beans overnight, I will take the lid off the bowl and before draining & rinsing them, I always remove any "floaters".
I've been told time & time again, that if you have any beans that float to
the top of the water, it means that they are old and need to be discarded.

[Darlene]

Poor ugly beans, so misunderstood.
I've rarely found anything wierd in my beans but always check too.

[ukbb]

Thanks all, I made this over the weekend but despite being in the crockpot some of the beans and celery didn't completely cook. Any tips to properly cook them?

Great Northern Bean and Carrot Soup

Ingredients
2 cups Great Northern Beans, dry
6 cups Water
1-15 oz. can Tomato Sauce
1-1/3 cups Onions, diced
4 cups Carrots sliced thick
4 Stalks Celery sliced thick

Turn the crock-pot on "high". Wash the great northern beans and add to the crock-pot. Boil the water and add to the crock-pot. Let the beans simmer for a couple of hours until they begin to soften. Great northern beans are faster cooking than most other beans.
After about two hours add the tomato sauce to the crock-pot. Wash and peel the onion; dice it and add to the crock-pot. Wash and peel the carrots, slice and add to the crock-pot and continue to cook for another few hours.

[guest002]

I tried cooking dried beans in the crock pot once and they never seem to cook until done even on high for 10 hours. I cook 'em on the stove top and in around 3 hours they are done. Trick is not to let all the water boil out and stir them a few times an hour. Stir more towards the end of the cooking.

[shoiji]

I definately pick thru the beans. And have actually found tiny rocks on occasion.

[ukbb]

I definately pick thru the beans. And have actually found tiny rocks on occasion.

That wouldn't be a good thing to find when you crunch down on it with a crown.

UKBB

[Luv2BeFrugal]

I've always looked, but have yet to find any rocks in my beans. I make sure to rinse 'em, though.

[jillywalnuts]

I have hard water and I use 1/8 tsp baking soda for 1 lb beans when I'm cooking them. It used to take almost twice as long to cook them before I started doing this.

I've never cooked them in the crockpot, but maybe it would help.