If you want to know how to cook black-eyed peas, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the ins and outs of preparing this flavorful legume! From stovetop methods to storage suggestions, we’re covering it all. Plus, learn tips for Instant Pot and slow cooker techniques!
Course How to
Cuisine American
Diet Vegetarian
Keyword black-eyed peas, cooking black-eyed peas, how to cook black-eyed peas, instant pot black-eyed peas, stovetop black-eyed peas
Rinse: Before cooking, it's important to sort through the black-eyed peas, removing any stones, twigs, or shriveled beans. Then, rinse them under cold water using a fine-mesh strainer.
Soak (Optional): To speed up the cooking process, you can soak your black-eyed peas in room temperature water overnight (make sure they’re covered with at least 4 inches to spare). For a quicker option, bring them to a boil for 2-3 minutes in a pot of water, then remove them from the heat and let them soak for about an hour.
Stovetop Black-Eyed Peas
If you’ve soaked your beans, drain and rinse them one more time. Then, add them to a pot with water (use a 4:1 water-to-beans ratio for the stovetop). Feel free to mix in some aromatics like bay leaves, garlic cloves, or any whole spices you enjoy.
Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let the black-eyed peas simmer gently for about 45-60 minutes, adding more water throughout if they seem dry. As with other legumes, salt should be added near the end of the cooking process to prevent them from becoming tough.
Instant Pot Black-Eyed Peas
Combine the rinsed black-eyed peas with water in a 3:1 ratio. Include any aromatics you’d like, then secure the lid. Cook on high pressure for 10 minutes and allow a natural pressure release for 10 minutes.
Slow Cooker Black-Eyed Peas
Combine the black-eyed peas with water at a 4:1 ratio in your slow cooker. Toss in any desired seasonings and aromatics and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.