Pinto Beans Southern Style

“Look” your beans by pouring a small amount of beans into your hand, removing and discarding any defective, broken or discolored beans.

To parboil the beans, rinse beans and add them to a large stock pot, covering them with 2-3 inches of water and boil rapidly for 10-15 minutes.

Reduce heat to a slow boil and add bacon or ham bone. Cover the pot with a lid and cook until tender (2-3 hours). Add salt to taste when nearly done. Check on beans every so often and add water as needed—dry beans absorb a lot of water while cooking.

Slow cooker version: The night before, parboil as instructed above. Add beans to a large crockpot and cover with 2-3 inches of water. In the morning, cover with 3-4 inches of water. Add bacon or ham bone to the large crockpot. Cover with 3-4 inches of water. Cook 6-8 hours on low until done. Salt to taste.