Why don’t beans swell in water?

Soaked beans usually swell in water, becoming two to three times their size. This is due to the fact that dry grains are very active in absorbing water – when soaking beans, it is even worth pouring water over it with a supply and choose larger dishes.

If the beans do not swell and do not absorb water, most likely, they were stored for a long time after harvesting and had time to dry out badly.… Such beans can turn out to be very tough, even if you follow all the rules for cooking beans. If it is known that the beans are old, it is better to pour boiling water over them in advance before soaking – this will remove the wax layer on the beans and help soften the shell a little. For old beans, add a quarter to one-half teaspoon of baking soda to the soak water. Another way is to make a brine (2 flat teaspoons of salt per liter of water) and soak the beans in it. This will also help soften it.

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