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Pinto beans

About the ingredient pinto beans. Including 289 recipes with pinto beans, nutrition data, photos, and where to find it.

 

What are pinto beans?

Pinto and pink beans, although related and used interchangeably in recipes, do not look alike. The Pintos are pale pink, speckled with brown. The pink beans are smoother and more brownish red than the name implies, and are sometimes called “red Mexican” or “red miners”. Both varieties turn red-brown during cooking.

dried pinto beans

When called for in a recipe, unless otherwise specified, the ingredient is normally canned prepared pinto beans. You may wish to prepare them from dried beans yourself, which is much more cost effective.

Dried Bean Purchasing Guide

Dried beans should be clean, uniform in size and quality. Today dried beans are usually sold pre-packaged and a reliable brand will guarentee clean, uniformly sized beans.

1 pound, raw = approximately 2 1/3 cups

1 pound, cooked = approximately 6 cups

Storage

After opening the package place the unused beans in a clean, tightly covered container and store on the pantry shelf.

Kitchen shelf: 1 year

Refrigerator shelf, cooked, covered: 3 to 4 days

Refrigerator freezer, cooked beans and cooked bean dishes, prepare for freezing: 1 month

Deep Freezer, cooked beans and cooked bean dishes, prepared for freezing: 4 to 6 months

dried pinto beans

Basic Preparation

Packaged beans are usually sorted and washed before packaging, so need only be rinsed.

Bean bought in bulk should be sorted carefully, discarding broken and defective beans, and washed until the water runs clear.

It's a good idea to soak the beans to replace some of the water lost during the drying process.

In general, if directions are not given on the package, use the amount of water called for in the recipe; save the nutritious soaking water to use in cooking the beans.

There are two ways of soaking dried beans:

  1. Quick method: Measure the soaking water into a large, heavy pot. Add the washed beans and bring to the boil. Cover the pot and cook for 2 minutes; remove from heat and let stand for one hour, then cook according to recipe directions.

  2. Overnight method: Measure the soaking water into a large pot; add washed beans; cover pot, and let stand for 6 to 8 hours. To prevent souring and hard skins the two minute boil above is recommended even when the beans are soaked overnight.

Add one teaspoon of salt per cup of soaked beans. If ham, bacon or salt pork is to be added use a smaller amount of salt.

Always try to cook in the soaking water. Cover the pot and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer according to the recipe.

Stir carefully but not too often to avoid breaking apart the beans. When done they should hold their shape as well as be tender. Cooking time can range from 20 minutes to 1 ½ hours depending on the type of bean and how long they have been stored.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 cup (240g)
Amount per Serving
Calories 206Calories from Fat 17
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 1.9g 3%
Saturated Fat 0.4g 2%
Trans Fat ~
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 705mg 29%
Total Carbohydrate 36.6g 12%
Dietary Fiber 11g 44%
Sugars 0.5
Protein 11.7g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 10% Iron 19%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your caloric needs.

Where found

Pinto beans are usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Pinto beans are a member of the Legumes and Legume Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do pinto beans weigh?

Amount Weight
1 cup 240 grams

Legumes and Legume Products

In Chinese:斑豆
British (UK) term:
en français:haricots pinto
en español:frijoles pinto

Recipes using pinto beans

There are 289 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Chasing Chili

Chasing Chili

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Chasing Chili recipe

Brownsville Chili

Brownsville Chili

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Brownsville Chili recipe

Alamo Chili

Alamo Chili

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A simple but savory chili made with succulent stewing beef, pinto beans and jalapeno peppers.

Chili Super Bowl

Chili Super Bowl

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Chili Super Bowl recipe

Bullard's Best Yet Chili

Bullard's Best Yet Chili

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Bullard's Best Yet Chili recipe

Beef And Beans

Beef And Beans

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Beef And Beans recipe

Cowboy Pintos Vegan

Cowboy Pintos Vegan

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Cowboy Pintos recipe

Arcadian Eight Bean Chili

Arcadian Eight Bean Chili

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Arcadian Eight Bean Chili recipe

Franks' Chili Beans

Franks' Chili Beans

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Chili Beans recipe

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

Chunky Vegetarian Chili

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Chunky Vegetarian Chili recipe

Amy's Chili with Hominy (Vegan)

Amy's Chili with Hominy (Vegan)

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Amy's Chili with Hominy (Vegan) recipe

Bandera Chili

Bandera Chili

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Bandera Chili recipe

Aaron's Hillbilly Chili

Aaron's Hillbilly Chili

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Aaron's Hillbilly Chili recipe

Mexican Beans and Rice

Mexican Beans & Rice

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An easy and tasty side dish - spicy beans and rice.

Best Texas Chili

Best Texas Chili

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Best Texas Chili recipe

Amarillo Chili

Amarillo Chili

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Amarillo Chili recipe

Cheese Enchiladas with New Mexican Chile Sauce

Cheese Enchiladas with New Mexican Chile Sauce

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This is a cheese enchilada casserole. Beans, cheese, onions, Mexican chile sauce (not very spicy) and corn tortillas are layered in a casserole and then it's baked in the oven until bubbly.

Cheese Enchiladas with New Mexican Chile Sauce

Cheese Enchiladas with New Mexican Chile Sauce

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This is a cheese enchilada casserole. Beans, cheese, onions, Mexican chile sauce (not very spicy) and corn tortillas are layered in a casserole and then it's baked in the oven until bubbly.

Toasted Pita and Pinto Bean Salad

Toasted Pita & Pinto Bean Salad

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Crispy toasted pita bread with seasoned pinto beans, diced cucumber, tomato and fresh lettuce, easy and tasty.

Abilene Texas Chili

Abilene Texas Chili

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Abilene Texas Chili recipe

Homemade Refried Beans

Homemade Refried Beans

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It's quick and easy to make, and it tastes a lot better and healthier too.

Taco Bean Salad

Taco Bean Salad

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Quite tasty and filling. I used black bean instead of pinto beans, I also squeezed half of the lime juice into the dressing, and I omitted the tomatoes that I didn't have on hand. I did think a ripe yet juice tomatoes would add more great flavor. Served it on a bed of lettuce and home-baked tortilla chips.

All 289 recipes

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