Manish Gupta Manish Gupta Asked 6 months ago

How long to boil kidney beans?

We are making rajma chawal for dinner tonight, and I'm not sure how long to boil the kidney beans after soaking them. I want them to be perfectly tender, not too hard or too mushy.

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7 answers

Ishita Sharma Ishita Sharma Joined May 2026 6 months ago
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For kidney beans (rajma), definitely soak them overnight first, that's crucial. After soaking, I usually boil them for about 45-60 minutes in a pressure cooker to make sure they're properly cooked and soft. Always check a few to be sure, undercooked rajma can be a bit tricky.

Sameer Bhatia Sameer Bhatia Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Soak overnight is a must for rajma. Then in a pressure cooker, give it one whistle on high, then lower the flame and cook for another 20-25 minutes. Perfectly done every time. If boiling in a pot, expect at least 1.5-2 hours after soaking.

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Shruti Desai Shruti Desai Joined Mar 2026 6 months ago

I was just looking this up! Soaking them overnight is non-negotiable, heard it makes them easier to digest too. Then from what I gathered, around an hour on the stove or 20-30 mins in a pressure cooker. Does that sound right to everyone?

Rahul Singh Rahul Singh Joined Jan 2026 6 months ago

Yo! Soak them overnight for sure. Then I usually pressure cook them for around 4-5 whistles, maybe 20-25 mins after the first whistle. Comes out perfect for rajma chawal every time. Don't skip the soaking, trust me.

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Lakshmi Narayan Lakshmi Narayan Joined May 2026 6 months ago

Hmm, kidney beans, we call them 'rajma' sometimes. My mother always says to soak them completely overnight, like 8-10 hours. Then, boil them until they are very soft, for about an hour on the stove, or for 4-5 whistles in the pressure cooker. Always ensure they are thoroughly cooked.

Vivek Rao Vivek Rao Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

For kidney beans, the most important step is soaking them for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. After that, if you're using a pressure cooker, it'll take about 20-25 minutes (4-5 whistles). If you're boiling in an open pot, it can take anywhere from 1 to 1.5 hours until they're perfectly tender. Don't rush it!

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