Pinto Beans

Pinto Beans: From Plant to Plate

When it comes to favorite legumes, it’s safe to say that the pinto bean is among the most popular in the world. Prized for their flavor, nutritional content, and convenience, pinto beans have become an important part of many diets. But did you know that a lot of work, planning, and strategizing go into getting those beans to your plate? Here, we will explore the journey of a pinto bean from plant to plate.

What Exactly Are Pinto Beans?

Before we explore the journey to the plate, let’s take a step back and talk about what exactly pinto beans are. Scientifically called Phaseolus vulgaris, these edible, highly versatile beans are part of the legume family, which also includes black beans, kidney beans, and white beans. Pintos are relatively small, oval shaped beans that range from light tan to reddish-yellow. They have a speckled skin, hence why they’re often referred to as speckled beans. Cooked pinto beans are often creamy, though they can retain a bit of firmness, which makes them great for adding texture to different dishes.

Nutritionally, pinto beans are considered a great source of protein and fiber. A single cup of cooked pinto beans contains 15 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein. That’s why they are a popular option among health-minded eaters. In addition, they contain countless micronutrients, such as manganese, potassium, folate, and magnesium.

From Planting to Harvest

So, how do pinto beans make it from farm to plate? It all starts with planting. Farmers typically choose to grow pinto beans for the many wonderful qualities they possess, such as their flavor, easy cultivation, and nutritional content. Planting typically happens in late summer to early fall and the optimal climate for the beans to thrive is drier and warmer – but not too hot.

During the growing process, the plants need adequate amounts of water and sunlight, and they need to be regularly weeded to ensure they have enough room to grow and not become overcrowded. As the beans begin to mature, the mature beans will swell up and become darker in color, signifying that they are ready for harvesting. The farmer then cuts down the bean plants, leaving only the tops and roots in the ground.

After harvesting, the beans require some additional handling procedures before they are able to even make it to the market. Typically, the beans will be moved to a nearby location for drying before being sorted, cleaned, and graded, based on their quality and size. After the grading process is complete, the beans are then packaged, labeled, and shipped out to the various locations.

Turning Beans into Food-Ready Products

Once the beans have been shipped off, they land in manufacturing facilities or processing plants. Here, raw pinto beans can become a variety of food-ready products, such as canned, cooked, or frozen beans. Canned beans, for example, are pre-cooked using a specific process that typically involves pressure-cooking and adding some preservative and flavoring ingredients, such as salt and spices.

Then, the cans are filled up with the cooked beans and sealed up before being transferred to a cooling station. Frozen pinto beans typically go through a similar process, except that at the end, the beans are frozen and then packaged for distribution. Basically, this entire process is designed to ensure that when consumers buy pinto beans from their local market, they are in food-ready form.

Making It to the Plate

At this point, the beans have come a long way from the farm. From here, they will be ready to be bought and taken home, either in their canned or frozen form. However, in order to make it to the plate, there are several steps that the consumer will need to take.

First, the beans need to be prepared. If canned, they will need to be drained and rinsed, while frozen beans will need to be thawed out before being cooked. Then, the beans should be further cooked using liquid, such as water or broth, as well as some added spices and seasonings. This process will bring out their tenderness, flavor, and overall nutritional content. During cooking, it’s important to stir the beans occasionally in order to avoid any sort of sticking.

Once done cooking, the beans can be added to a variety of dishes, ranging from salads, to chilis, to tacos, to soups. For a more filling, starchy side dish, the beans can also simply be served alone, with a dollop of butter and some chopped herbs.

Conclusion

From plant to plate, there is a significant amount of work and attention put into getting pinto beans from the farm to our dinner tables. Through a complex chain of planting, harvesting, processing, packaging, and ultimately cooking, pinto beans make their way from the fields to our plates and prove to be an important source of vitamins and minerals for health-conscious eaters. So the next time you’re enjoying a bowl of delicious pinto beans, think about the effort it took to get them there.