day-old bread. For a thicker, almost baked-bean texture, cook uncovered on HIGH at the end until the liquid reduces to your liking.
Food safety and practicality tips: Always rinse and pick through dried beans to remove any debris or tiny stones. For the most reliable soft texture, avoid very old beans, which may never fully soften. Because this recipe uses dried beans, do not cook them on the WARM setting; use LOW or HIGH so they reach a safe temperature. If you live at high altitude, beans can take longer
