Giving New Life to Old Beans

Should you throw out those dry beans that have hardened after years in storage? No! No!…….. To salvage old beans, wash and sort them, removing any discolored beans or foreign material. To each cup of dry beans, add 2 1/2 c. of hot tap water and 2 tsp. baking soda. Soak the beans overnight. The next day, drain and rinse them twice. Put them in a large pot, cover them with water and cook then until they become tender - about 2 hours. As the beans cook, add more water as needed. Then use the beans in any recipe. (R.S. General Board)