Crock pot Black Eyed Peas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What does baking soda do to black-eyed peas? ›

Bottom Line. If beans make you uncomfortably gassy, sprinkle a little baking soda into their soaking water. It will reduce the volume of gas produced by the legumes, plus, they will cook quicker. If you're even shorter on time, you may want to try some of our favorite recipes to make with a can of black beans.

Soaked black eyed peas take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours to cook, depending on the age of the beans, how long they were soaked for and how soft you prefer them. If you're starting with frozen black eyed peas, microwave until thawed before adding them to your dish.

Instant Pot Black Eyed Peas (Fast, Perfect, No Soaking!) With an Instant Pot and about 30 minutes, you can make perfectly cooked black eyed peas every time!

Drain them the next day and bring them to a boil in cold water, then reduce the heat so the water barely simmers: dried black-eyed peas can overcook, and a rolling boil could cause them to break apart. Taste the peas often to check their doneness: They should be creamy but retain their shape.

To degas with baking soda, add a teaspoon of baking soda to 4 quarts of water. Stir in the dried beans and bring to a boil. Then turn off the heat and let the beans soak at least four hours (I usually do this the night before I want to use them; the longer soak won't hurt them). Drain, rinse and rinse again.

Also, make sure to keep adding liquid (broth or water) to the peas as they cook, or they will dry out. The broth/liquid is what breaks them down and makes them tender and flavorful.

Place beans in a large pot and cover them with 4 inches of chicken stock. Simmer, covered, for about 1 hour. Start checking after 45 minutes to see if they are tender and add more broth or water as necessary to keep them covered. Add in a ham bone if you have one for even more flavorful black-eyed peas.

Beans should soak for 8 to 10 hours overnight. If they are soaked for longer than 12 hours, they can lose their familiar flavor and become overly mushy.

Smash more of the peas up against the inside of the pot again (this helps the broth thicken). Simmer for 10 minutes more. Check the consistency of the black-eyed peas: If they are not creamy enough for you, smash a few more peas. If the broth is too thick, thin out with a little more water.

Canned black-eyed peas are best in recipes that don't require slow cooking or a long cook time, which can make them mushy. If you're using canned black-eyed peas, simply rinse them in a colander to remove any liquid from the can as well as excess salt. Then you're good to go!

What happens if you forget to soak black-eyed peas? ›

When cooking black-eyed peas without soaking, rinse them thoroughly under cold water to remove any impurities. Then, place them in a pot with enough water or broth to cover them by about 2 inches. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until they reach the desired tenderness.

Place 1 cup black eyed peas and 4 cups water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the beans are tender. This will take about 45 minutes.

The soluble fiber in black eyed peas slows digestion, which helps the body regulate blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of blood sugar spikes. This lowered risk makes black eyed peas a healthy food choice for people with diabetes.

Black-eyed peas are a rich source of complex carbohydrates, which take longer to digest than simple carbohydrates. As a result, people who eat them may feel fuller for longer, which may help with reaching a moderate weight.

California black-eye peas contain several types of phytochemicals. They are rich in lignans, which may play a role in preventing osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain cancers. The flavonoids in beans may help reduce heart disease and cancer risk. Phytosterols, also in legumes, help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

The addition of baking soda to the cooking water does two things: It adds sodium ions that weaken the pectin as explained above, and more importantly, an alkaline environment causes the pectin molecules to break down into smaller molecules that greatly weakens the pectin causing the beans to soften much more rapidly.

On the other side of the pH equation, the addition of an alkali such as baking soda will break down the cell structure of the beans. But use it sparingly—no more than1/8 teaspoon per pound of beans. Too much will destroy nutrients and result in mushy beans.

As it turns out, baking soda significantly decreases the levels of raffinose, the gas-causing sugar present in beans. When should you add baking soda to beans? It works best with just a pinch (about 1/16 of a teaspoon) sprinkled into dried beans while they soak in water before cooking.

Baking soda can help neutralize stomach acid, which may relieve painful bloating. Try drinking an 8-ounce glass of water with 1/2 teaspoon of dissolved baking soda.