• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Mamá Maggie's Kitchen
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beef
    • Breakfast
    • Chicken
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
    • Vegetarian
    • Healthy
    • Mexican
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Learn
  • Cookbooks
  • Shop
  • Courses
    • Tamales
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Courses
  • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • Courses
    • Shop
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK

    Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK

    Last Updated June 4, 2019. Originally Posted June 5, 2018 By Maggie Unzueta

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Beans and rice and everything spice. That’s what Mexican food is made of. By making these Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK, you save time without sacrificing taste. Love it!
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Beans and rice and everything spice. That’s what Mexican food is made of. By making these Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK, you save time without sacrificing taste. Love it! by Mama Maggie's Kitchen

    Beans and rice and everything spice. That’s what Mexican food is made of. By making these Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK, you save time without sacrificing taste. Love it!

    Bowl of Pinto beans next to an Instant Pot

    Each week, I make a big pot of beans. Frijoles de la Olla is a staple in Mexican food. I can make several dishes with beans, or just eat them as a side dish. Heck, I will even eat a bowl of beans for lunch. When I got my Instant Pot, the first thing I tried to make was Instant Pot Pinto Beans. My friends, you’re going to love this recipe!

    dried pinto beans

    It starts off the same as regular Frijoles de la Olla. Sort the beans.

    Hand holding cracked pinto beans

    Remove any broken pieces. Any partial pieces. Missing the skin. All go into the trash.

    Hand holding rock from the pinto beans

    Don’t skip this step! Can’t tell you how many times I’ve found tiny rocks in the dried beans. Yes, this is a rock I found in my bag of beans.

    Faucet water rinsing pinto beans in a metal strainer

    From here, you must wash, rinse, repeat. Again, don’t skip this step, or your beans will taste like dirt. Ewwww! Not sure about you, but I don’t like to eat dirt. Well, not since I was 2-years-old at least. lol.

    Rinsed Pinto Beans

    These are rinsed beans… To soak? Or not to soak? That is the question. I experimented with this a few times before writing the post, and I found that you don’t have to soak the beans. Say what?!! More on that in a minute…

    1 teaspoon of salt over the Instant Pot with beans

    Place your beans in the Instant Pot. Add salt. Typically, we use a lot of salt, but because we’re using an Instant Pot and less water, use less salt. I recommend 1 teaspoon for 8 cups of water.

    Tablespoon of Oil over the Instant Pot Pinto Beans

    Oil… I know. I know. Totally not traditional, but it helps with the foaming and prevents clogging up the pressure valve. Add the water and lock the lid on your Instant Pot.

    Instant Pot valve sealed

    I cooked them for 35 minutes at High Pressure. Then full natural release about 20-30 minutes. Then… be careful moving that valve!! … switch the valve to “venting.”

    Cooked beans in the Instant Pot

    Lastly, CAREFULLY open up the lid, and your beans are ready.

    Spoonful of Cooked Pinto Beans

    What I found out about Instant Pot Pinto Beans:

    There will be more cracked beans than pinto beans cooked on the stovetop or in the slow cooker.

    They are also more mushy, but if you’re making yummy and creamy refried beans or sticking them in a soup, this isn’t a problem.

    Full natural release is better than quick release. It will help prevent all of the above.

    Instant Pot Pinto Beans

    The only problem that I found with the NO SOAK method: The beans are not as plump. Soaking allows the beans to absorb the water and get nice a fat. If you decide to not soak the beans, know that they will be smaller.

    Some people say that soaked beans help with digestion, and you won’t have so many tummy issues. I’ve never experienced this firsthand.

    Not So Spicy Beans

    With an Instant Pot, you can only add so much liquid in order for the beans to cook properly. That’s why you can’t make a big pot of beans. Instead, I recommend to cook in batches.

    If they are not cooked thoroughly… yes, it can happen… lock the lid back on the Instant Pot, set pressure cooker HIGH, 5 minutes. The pot will go back up to pressure quicker because it’s still hot. Then carefully test the beans if ready. Hope you enjoy!


    See my original recipe for Frijoles de la Olla, or Cooked Pinto Beans.

    Bowl of Pinto beans next to an Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK

    Beans and rice and everything spice. That’s what Mexican food is made of. By making these Instant Pot Pinto Beans NO SOAK, you save time without sacrificing taste. Love it!
    5 from 15 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 8 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 3 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5 cups
    Calories: 154kcal
    Author: Maggie Unzueta

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb pinto beans
    • 8 cups Water
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 tablespoon oil

    Instructions

    • Sort beans, removing all broken beans.
    • Wash and rinse several times, removing all the dirt.
    • Place in the Instant Pot.
    • Add the water, salt, and oil.
    • Seal the Instant Pot lid and set the steam valve to "Sealing."
    • Set to high pressure for 35 minutes.
    • When the cycle ends, allow for the full natural release. 
    • Move the switch valve to “Venting.” Allow all the steam to release before opening.
    • Carefully open the lid.
    • Enjoy!
    • Note: If the beans are not fully cooked, return to the Instant Pot and set on high pressure for 5 minutes.

    Notes

    Remove any broken pieces. Any partial pieces. Missing the skin. All go into the trash.
     You must wash, rinse, repeat. Again, don’t skip this step, or your beans will taste like dirt.
    If you decide to not soak the beans, know that they will be smaller.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 154kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 485mg | Potassium: 396mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 53mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @MamaMaggiesKitchen or tag #MamaMaggiesKitchen!

    Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links.


    Filed Under: Healthy, Mexican, Recipes, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

    About Maggie Unzueta

    Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda

      January 9, 2019 at 7:12 pm

      I absolutely love pinto beans so I need to try out this recipe. Now all I need is an Instant Pot!

      Reply
    2. Krizzia

      January 9, 2019 at 10:53 pm

      You made it look so easy to do!! I love Pinto Beans!!

      Reply
    3. Kelsey

      January 10, 2019 at 6:18 am

      Yum these look amazing, and super easy to make!

      Reply
    4. Harmony, Momma To Go

      January 10, 2019 at 6:52 am

      this sounds amazing but I dont have an insta pot! They scare me. However, I am a huge fan of all beans.

      Reply
    5. Patricia

      January 10, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      Yum! Those beans turned out perfectly! This is yet another compelling reason for me to consider getting the Instant Pot. I don’t have one yet!

      Reply
    6. Frank

      January 10, 2019 at 7:45 pm

      Do you have avocado trees in Coronado? If you do, steal some leaves and put one or two in your beans to cook. That’s the way Lidia cooked black beans in Boca del Cielo, Chiapas. Divine!

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        January 16, 2019 at 2:41 pm

        I’ve seen many recipes with avocado leaves. Unfortunately, it’s not very popular ingredient and hard to find in the US. Just like you said, though, if you have a tree, pick one of the leaves and add it to the pot. Thank you for suggestion!

        Reply
    7. Frank

      January 10, 2019 at 7:47 pm

      Maggie,

      This doesn’t belong here but I have to ask: where is your stewed chickpeas recipe? I saw it two days ago, but I can’t find it, and I have a huge pot of chickpeas.

      Hungry,

      Reply
      • Maggie Unzueta

        January 16, 2019 at 2:42 pm

        I don’t have a recipe for stewed chickpeas… lol. Maybe one day!

        Reply
    8. Phyllis Kommert

      September 21, 2019 at 2:17 pm

      Wow! Those beans are perfect! Delicious, plump, perfect!
      I do need to say, I used garlic salt and olive oil.
      Thank you.

      Reply
    9. Erin

      August 3, 2020 at 4:03 pm

      Delish and easy! It’s a KEEPER recipe!!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        August 4, 2020 at 5:34 pm

        Right? So easy and delicious

        Reply
    10. Sue

      October 5, 2020 at 6:34 am

      5 stars
      I love that you can cook these beans without soaking – what a time saver!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 5, 2020 at 1:21 pm

        Isn’t it the best? Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    11. Angela

      October 5, 2020 at 6:42 am

      5 stars
      LOve it

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 5, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        Thank you very much!

        Reply
    12. Emily Flint

      October 5, 2020 at 8:25 am

      5 stars
      I’m so glad I found this recipe, now making beans is so easy I have no excuse not to do it all the time!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 5, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        Exactly! Hope you try them.

        Reply
    13. Taleen | Just As Tasty

      October 5, 2020 at 12:02 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never made beans in an instant pot. Love how easy this is!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 5, 2020 at 1:14 pm

        Easy and delicious! Glad you liked it.

        Reply
    14. Amy

      October 5, 2020 at 3:29 pm

      5 stars
      Love that it’s a no soak recipe! Saves so much time. Love Instant Pot!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 7, 2020 at 11:37 am

        So easy and delicious!

        Reply
    15. Deanna

      October 5, 2020 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      My new favourite way to cook beans. So easy!

      Reply
      • Maggie U

        October 7, 2020 at 11:37 am

        Glad you enjoyed this!

        Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Maggie
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • PR/ Advertise
    • Email maggie @ mamamaggieskitchen.com