Why did the beans shrivel when soaked?

When soaking, the beans actively absorb water, especially if they are old, have been stored for a long time after harvesting and have dried out greatly during this time. This process makes the subsequent cooking easier and quicker; without soaking, dry beans will take a long time to cook and are likely to remain tough. When soaking, you need to remember that a lot of water will be required, the beans should be covered with a couple of centimeters in reserve. The pot should be large enough because the beans will swell a lot. To better absorb water, it is worth pouring boiling water over the beans before soaking – this will destroy the thin layer of natural wax that covers the grains and improve the water permeability of the shell. When saturated with moisture, the bean shell is likely to wrinkle – this is normal. Further, when boiling, it will become smooth again.

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