How to Peel Beans

Learning how to peel beans is a must-know hack, especially if you love using beans for your recipes. This easy technique will give you ready-to-use beans in no time.

It doesn’t require fancy equipment or ingredients – just quality beans, water, and a few minutes! I can assure you that you can master this hack on your first attempt. 

How to Peel Beans

Practice how to peel beans like this, and you’ll be peeling them like a pro!

Ingredient

Beans

Beans are edible seeds that are sweet and moist when cooked. I especially love the quality of oloyin beans because we love Akara and Moi Moi in our home! They are usually paired with plantains or yams for enriched flavor. 

Why should you eat beans? They’re rich in protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, and other essential nutrients to keep you healthy. According to WebMD, adding them to your diet can aid in weight loss, heart health, and blood sugar levels. 

These can also be excellent stage-one baby foods for weaning because they present numerous benefits for growth and development. Meanwhile, adults can use beans to prepare healthy meals for energy and nutrition! 

Directions

This is the perfect guide for you if you have difficulty peeling beans. 

1. Soak the beans in lukewarm water in a bowl for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. Then, rub the beans between your hands to peel off the skin. 
3. Add more water to let the skin float.
4. Pour out the water using a sieve to segregate the skin.
5. Do this several times until you get all of the skin out. 
6. Once you’re contented with the peeled beans, you can use them or store them already!

You may notice that they have doubled in weight; this is normal for soaked beans, so do not worry. On a scale of 1 to 10, let me know how easy it was for you to peel them! 

Tips

Buying beans

Purchase fresh and packaged beans without holes or insects. Check the label to see if it is the variety you need for your recipes. 

Storing beans

Beans have a long shelf life. You can place them in areas with less humidity and away from sunlight. These can also be transferred into airtight containers or resealable bags to last longer.

Alternative Ways on How to Peel Beans

Blender or food processor

1. Pre-soak the beans for about 5 minutes.
2. Then, pour them into a blender.
3. Blend them on the pulse setting for a second.
4. Pour them over a bowl with a fine-mesh sieve to filter.
5. Give the blender a shake to let the skin float.

Mortar and pestle

1. Soak the beans and drain them.
2. Then, put an adequate amount on a mortar and use the pestle to rub off the skin.
3. Pour water into the mortar to let the skin float.
4. Filter the contents to get peeled beans.

Grater

1. Grate the soaked beans over a bowl of water.
2. Drain the contents until you are left with the peeled pieces.

Masher

1. Pour the beans into a bowl with water.
2. Use a masher to remove the skin underwater.
3. Finally, drain and continue the process if there is leftover skin. 

Mixer

1. Add beans and water to the mixer bowl.
2. Then, set the mixer to low speed for a few minutes.
3. Filter the water with a fine-mesh sieve to separate the skin.

Recommended Tools

• Bowl: Soak and rub the beans in a bowl. 
• Fine-mesh sieve: Filter the contents with a fine-mesh sieve. 

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How to Use Beans

Beans serve multiple purposes in cooking. For instance, you can use it for cooking African recipes such as:

• Moin Moin – Bean Pudding

• Akara – Bean Cake/Bean Fritters

• Bgegiri – Beans Soup

• Ofunloju (Ekuru) – White Bean Pudding

• Cooked Peeled Beans.

Aside from these recipes, beans can also be used for pasta, pies, or casseroles like Spaghetti Bolognese, Turkey Pie, and Mashed Potatoes!

You can also cook these beans into dips, soups and stews, chili, and food bowls. In fact, beans also make a good filling for enchiladas, tacos, burritos, burgers, and more!

Storage Tips

• At room temperature: Keep the peeled beans in a container at room temperature for less than a day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get the skin off the beans?

Separate the skin from the peeled beans by adding water to the bowl. The skin will naturally float to the top, and you can drain them easily.

Are you supposed to peel beans?

Peeling beans can be optional, but I suggest peeling them because the human body cannot easily digest them. Peeled beans can be cooked and mixed easily with other ingredients. Moreover, peeling can prevent indigestion.

Is it good to peel beans before cooking?

Yes, it is highly recommended to peel the beans before cooking because the skin can be difficult for the body to digest. Peeled beans can also give you smoother quality and texture.

How do you peel beans with a blender?

Pulse the pre-soaked beans in a blender and let the skin float to the top. Then, filter the contents to separate the beans. Do this several times until the beans are fully peeled.

How long should you soak beans before peeling? 

Soak the beans for at least 30 minutes or longer to loosen them up, making them easier to peel. 

How do you peel beans quickly? 

Remember to soak the beans before rubbing them between your palms to peel.