Dried Great Northern Beans

Store in a cool, dry place in an airtight container for up to a year for best quality. Longer storage is possible, but they may take longer to cook.

Always rinse dried beans thoroughly before soaking.

Soaking overnight or using a quick-soak method (boiling for 1-2 minutes, then letting sit for an hour) helps them cook more evenly and reduces cooking time.

Add salt to the cooking water towards the end of the cooking time to prevent the skins from toughening.

Cook beans until tender but not mushy for best texture.

Sausage

Ham

Chicken

Tomatoes

Garlic

Herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage)

Spinach

Kale

Not soaking the beans, leading to uneven cooking and longer cooking times.

Adding acidic ingredients like tomatoes or vinegar too early in the cooking process, which can prevent beans from softening.

Overcooking the beans, resulting in a mushy texture.