The 5 Biggest Mistakes When Cooking Beans in the Instant Pot

Cooking beans in the Instant Pot can be a lifesaver — quick, budget-friendly, and hands-off. But if your beans are coming out mushy, undercooked, or inconsistent, you may be making one of these common mistakes. Let’s fix them today.

1. Not Adding Enough Water

Beans soak up a surprising amount of liquid. If you don’t add enough, you’ll either get scorched beans or an Instant Pot error. Always make sure beans are fully covered by at least 2–3 inches of liquid.

2. Skipping the Salt

Many home cooks wait to salt beans until the end, worried it will toughen the skins. In reality, salting early seasons the beans inside and out. Don’t skip it — your beans will taste flat otherwise.

3. Forgetting the Natural Release

Quick releasing beans can cause them to split, break, or cook unevenly. Let the Instant Pot naturally release pressure for at least 10–15 minutes before opening.

4. Using Old Beans

Beans sitting in the pantry for years won’t cook properly, no matter what setting you use. For best results, buy beans in smaller batches and label them with the date you purchased.

5. Not Adjusting for Soaked vs. Unsoaked

Soaked beans cook faster and more evenly. If you’re using unsoaked beans, make sure to increase your cooking time — otherwise, you’ll end up with a crunchy disappointment.

Bonus: Bean-by-Bean Cook-Time Chart

Here’s a handy guide to help you nail bean cook times in your Instant Pot. Use it as your quick reference in the kitchen:

Bean Type	Unsoaked Cook Time	Soaked Cook Time	Source
Black Beans	25–30 min	5–7 min	Simply Quinoa, Serious Eats
Pinto Beans	25 min	—	Love and Lemons
Cannellini / White Beans	30–35 min	6–8 min	Simply Quinoa
Chickpeas	~40 min	~10 min	Simply Quinoa
Navy / Great Northern	25–35 min	—	A Mind "Full" Mom

Next Steps & Related Posts

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The 5 Biggest Mistakes When Cooking Beans in the Instant Pot