What are Navy Beans Best For?

Small, simplistic white navy beans are an item you should keep on hand throughout the year. They provide many health benefits and have amazing diversity when it comes to cooking with them. Dried navy beans are easy on the budget and require minimal storage space. They have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years when properly stored.

Nutrition and Health Benefits

Protein-rich navy beans are ideal for vegan recipes. These beans contain complex carbohydrates and are a good source of fiber. Navy beans are a rich source of folate, iron, zinc, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.

These beans can help support digestive health, reduce the risk of diabetes and improve heart health. Adding these beans to your diet can help reduce the risk of cancer, support healthy cell growth, support cognition, and improve memory.

Cooking Navy Beans

One of the reasons for soaking dried navy beans is to reduce the cooking time. The dried beans can be soaked for 8 hours or overnight if you plan to cook them on the stovetop. They don’t need to be soaked if they’re going to be cooked in a slow cooker or instant pot.

Year-Round Goodness

Unlike some foods, navy beans are not a seasonal item. Cooking navy beans is something you can do any time of the year. Their versatility enables them to be used in pasta recipes, as a pizza topping, and as a source of protein in summer salads. In the colder months, white navy beans can be a key ingredient in soups, chili, and Enchiladas.

Baked Navy Beans

It doesn’t matter what time of year you prepare and serve baked navy beans, you’re going to make people smile. Baked beans are popular at tailgate events, cookouts, and summer potluck meals. Baked beans are an ideal dish to serve on cool autumn days or cold winter evenings.

Baked navy beans can be one of the easiest dishes to prepare. They can be made in a slow cooker or traditional oven. Some of the basic ingredients include beans, ketchup, brown sugar, and an onion. Other ingredients may include items such as chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and molasses. It’s best to browse through several recipes to find or create the one with flavors you like the most.