John M

You thicken ham and beans by using a simple slurry, a mashed potato trick, or a slow simmer that lets the natural starches do the work.   If you’ve ever ladled up a bowl of ham and beans only to watch the broth run like water, you’re not alone.   The good news is that … Read more

You can thicken beans in several easy ways, depending on whether you’re cooking dried beans from scratch or working with a pot of canned beans that just needs a little more body.   The good news is that learning how to thicken beans doesn’t require fancy ingredients or chef-level skills.   Whether you want a … Read more

You can thicken baked beans using a few simple kitchen tricks, and most of them take just a few minutes.   Whether your baked beans came out of a can or you simmered them from scratch, runny beans are a common problem with an easy fix.   The good news is you don’t need fancy … Read more

You can take the gas out of beans by using methods that break down or reduce the compounds responsible for it, and there are several easy ways to do it at home.   Beans are notorious for causing bloating and embarrassing gas because they contain oligosaccharides like raffinose and stachyose.   Your body doesn’t have … Read more

You string green beans by snapping off the stem end and pulling the string down the pod’s seam.   It’s a simple, old-fashioned kitchen task that takes just a minute to learn.   If you’ve ever wondered how do you string green beans, the short answer is you pinch, snap, and pull.   Some varieties … Read more

You store whole coffee beans in an airtight container kept in a cool, dark, and dry spot away from heat, moisture, and direct sunlight.   That’s the short answer, and honestly, it’s the answer that will save your beans from turning stale before you get a chance to grind them.   If you’ve ever wondered … Read more