Influence of Pre‐Soaking on Black Bean Cooking Kinetics

Soaking of black beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and the subsequent effect on cooking kinetics was investigated. Unsoaked beans and beans soaked in water or a salt combination solution were water cooked at temperatures of 90–135°C. Bean softening did not follow first order kinetics. Using D T values (defined as cooking times necessary to reach an “eating‐soft” texture: Instron puncture force of 150g), softening activation energies (Ea's) for unsoaked, water, and salt combination soaked were 19.1, 31.3, and 38.9 Kcal/mole, respectively. Z values were calculated as 17, 22 and 36C°, respectively. These relationships suggest ways of safely reducing cooking time and energy expenditures.