Giving New Life to Old Beans

Should you throw out those dry beans that have hardened after years in storage? No! To salvage old beans, wash and sort them, removing any discolored beans or foreign material. To each cup of dry beans, add two and one-half cups (Imperial pint) of hot tap water and two teaspoons of baking soda. Soak the beans overnight. The next day, drain them and rinse them twice. Put them in a large pot, cover them with water, and cook them until they become tender—about two hours. As the beans cook, add more water as needed. The use the beans in any recipe.—Relief Society General Board