Other than being delicious, black-eyed peas are thought to bring luck, wealth, and prosperity if they are eaten on New Year’s Day. Nevertheless, these legumes can be eaten throughout the year and are enjoyed in many households around the world.
Whether you add some pork on the side, or spoon them over some toasted cornbread, you’ll need to know how to cook black-eyed beans before you serve them.
You’ll find out how to do so in this article, including the stovetop, slow cooker, and instant pot methods.
We’ve also covered whether black-eyed peas need soaking before you cook them, as well as how to store them to maximize their lifespan.
Keep reading to learn how to cook black-eyed peas!
More About Black Eyed Peas
Black-eyed peas are thought to be from North Africa, brought into North America by African enslaved people.
Like lentils and black beans, black-eyed peas are part of the legume family. They have a light, creamy hue with a noticeable black ‘eye’ in the center. The peas have a gentle flavor and velvety texture, tasting a little like black beans.
Though the name suggests otherwise, black-eyed peas aren’t peas. They are a type of cowpea, which is part of the bean family. Other names for the legumes include ‘southern peas’ and ‘goat peas’.
Do Black-Eyed Peas Need To Soak?
This depends on how you’re cooking the peas.
If you’re cooking the black-eyed peas in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker, the beans will cook rapidly if you soak them or not.
If you’re using the stove method, soaking the black-eyed peas overnight can save you some cooking time.
Soaking the black-eyed peas overnight and throwing the water away can eliminate any flatulence-causing particles, making them easier to digest.
Cooking Black Eyed Peas On The Stove
Preparing black-eyed peas on the stove is the easiest method. This is great if you want to monitor the beans as they cook, so you can check if they’re tender or not.
If you’re soaking the beans beforehand, the beans should cook for roughly 45 minutes. Unsoaked beans will take slightly longer on the stove, but not a huge amount more.
Follow these steps to cook your black-eyed peas on the stove:
Rinse the black-eyed peas with clean water and look to remove any stones.
Add three cups of water and a cup of black-eyed peas to a large pot.
Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat so the water simmers. Cook the beans until they are soft and tender, which will take around 45 minutes.
Drain any leftover water when the beans are done.
Cooking Black Eyed Peas In an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot saves you a lot of time when cooking black-eyed peas, but a disadvantage is that you can’t test them for tenderness as you cook.
You may need to practice this method a few times before you master it, as several factors can affect the legume’s cooking time.
Follow these steps to cook black-eyed peas in your Instant Pot:
Rinse the black-eyed peas with clean water and remove any stones.
Add a cup of black-eyed peas and four cups of water to the Instant Pot’s reservoir.
Close the lid shut and make sure it’s on the ‘sealing’ setting.
Set the pot on high pressure for ten minutes.
After the Instant Pot has reached its set pressure, it will emit a beeping noise and begin to release its pressure. Let the pot naturally release for ten minutes, then set the valve to ‘venting’ to free any residual pressure.
Cooking Black Eyed Peas With A Slow Cooker
Some people prefer Instant Pots over slow cookers, as they are a lot faster.
However, if you prefer to carry on with other jobs or need your stove for other kitchen tasks, you can cook your black-eyed peas with a slow cooker.
As is the case with preparing the legumes on the stove, you’ll need one part black-eyed peas to four parts water.
Cooking times will differ between different appliances, but in most cases, you can set the cooker on low for six hours, or on high for three hours.
Follow these steps to cook black-eyed peas with a slow cooker:
Rinse the black-eyed peas with clean water and remove any stones.
Add a cup of the beans and four cups of water to the slow cooker.
Set the cooker on low for six hours or on high for three hours. Start checking the beans to see if they are done near the end of the cooking time.
Drain any leftover water when the beans are done.
Best Method To Cook Black Eyed Peas
The Instant Pot method is convenient and quick, so it’s great for when you need the beans in a rush.
However, If you want to end up with nicely cooked black-eyed peas that aren’t too firm or too soft, we’d recommend using the stovetop method. You’ll be able to monitor the beans as they cook and check them for doneness as you go.
The pressure cooker method is best for those that don’t mind slightly soft beans. As you can’t remove the lid to check if the beans are done, there’s a risk of overcooking the beans.
Storing Black Eyed Peas
If you make a large batch of black-eyed peas and have some leftovers, you can store them in the fridge to enjoy later. The beans will last roughly five days when kept in an airtight container.
If you need the beans for a longer period, you can freeze them.
Transfer the beans into freezer bags and squeeze any air out of them. Label the bag with today’s date and put them in the freezer.
The beans will be suitable for around three months after the freezing date.
Final Thoughts
You can cook black-eyed peas on the stove, in an Instant Pot, or with a slow cooker.
The stove method is best as you can check if the beans are done as you go. However, if you need the beans quickly, or prefer to ‘set it and forget it’ so you can carry out other tasks, the other two methods may be better.
You may need to practice cooking the beans a few times before you get it right. With a little consistency and patience, you’ll end up with perfect black-eyed peas every time!
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
