Recovering from Red Kidney Bean Poisoning!

[FortyTwoBlades]

So thanks to my lady being preggers and us being college students (thus low income) we joined up with WIC to help us out with the grocery bill. One of the things that WIC checks encourage you to pick up is dry beans, which I hadn't really prepared to date so I thought it'd be fun. We grabbed a bag of Red Kidney Beans.

The trouble with this, however, was that the manufacturer failed to include instructions for proper preparation. I knew you needed to soak them overnight, discard the water, and the cook them...but didn't realize you had to bring them to a full boil (not just simmering) or else there would be pure toxic nastiness in them. I simmered the beans.

Good thing I was the only one that ate any, because a few hours later I felt extremely weak and nauseous, and almost vomited. I was able to knock the feeling down, but went to bed still feeling like crap. This morning I discovered the other, even less pleasant symptom. We'll simply say that it's a symptom known to cause dehydration. :barf: Fortunately it feels like it's going away now, but I figured I'd pass the warning along to folks like me that didn't know any better (though I'm sure this is old news and you're all shaking your heads at me ). Riding the porcelain bus isn't fun. BOIL your beans, folks! :foot:

P.S. I guess that Red Kidney Beans are--in particular--known for being high in that toxic compound. Other beans often have it, but in much lower amounts.

 

[ms3902]

Riding the porcelain bus isn't fun. BOIL your beans, folks!

That sounds like it should be a bumper sticker
I have to admit that I have been down that road myself. Not knowing that I needed to soak and boil them the first time I made them myself the same thing happened.:barf:
Not at all good I hope you get to feeling better.

 

[dawsonbob]

Wow. You have my sympathy.

I might mention that you really don't have to soak the beans overnight; in fact, overnight soaking is not even the best or safest way. You do have to start ahead of time though. In the future, use what's called the "quick soak" method. Why? Well, it eliminates soaking overnight, and double boils the beans, which helps eliminate the toxins. How's it done? Put the desired amount of beans in a pot, cover with the prescribed amount of water (usually about 2 inches above the top of the beans), and bring to a boil. Boil those little suckers for 4 minutes, and turn off the heat. Let them cool, then drain off the water you boiled them in. Refill the pot with water to cover the beans by about an inch, wait at least two hours, then cook according to the original recipe. Is there any difference in taste? Nope. A lot of research has been done on this (by culinary people, universities, etc.) and there has been no discernible difference in taste using this method vs overnight soaking. Oh, and because of the extra boiling process, it's actually safer, so you won't have to develop a strong relationship with your porcelain.

Enjoy.

 

[C_Kyle]

Jesus. I didn't even know there was any danger.

 

[dawsonbob]

Jesus. I didn't even know there was any danger.

Yep. It's a very real danger (ask FortyTwoBlades), but the fix is simple: BOIL YOUR BEANS. Sorry to shout like that, but it was important.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Wow. You have my sympathy.

I might mention that you really don't have to soak the beans overnight; in fact, overnight soaking is not even the best or safest way. You do have to start ahead of time though. In the future, use what's called the "quick soak" method. Why? Well, it eliminates soaking overnight, and double boils the beans, which helps eliminate the toxins. How's it done? Put the desired amount of beans in a pot, cover with the prescribed amount of water (usually about 2 inches above the top of the beans), and bring to a boil. Boil those little suckers for 4 minutes, and turn off the heat. Let them cool, then drain off the water you boiled them in. Refill the pot with water to cover the beans by about an inch, wait at least two hours, then cook according to the original recipe. Is there any difference in taste? Nope. A lot of research has been done on this (by culinary people, universities, etc.) and there has been no discernible difference in taste using this method vs overnight soaking. Oh, and because of the extra boiling process, it's actually safer, so you won't have to develop a strong relationship with your porcelain.

Enjoy.

Thanks for the tip! However, I've now developed a food aversion to kidney beans as a result of the experience, so it'll probably be a while before I can so much as look at them without feeling ill. I got violent stomach flu once after eating a bunch of peanuts and even though it wasn't the peanuts that were responsible I couldn't even HEAR the word "peanut" for about two years without getting queasy.

Yep. It's a very real danger (ask FortyTwoBlades), but the fix is simple: BOIL YOUR BEANS. Sorry to shout like that, but it was important.

Yup! Pretty damn important. If these were an iron ration in my survival gear and I was out in the middle of nowhere I would have been totally screwed. It can be hard to replace that much water, depending on where you are.

 

[dawsonbob]

Thanks for the tip! However, I've now developed a food aversion to kidney beans as a result of the experience, so it'll probably be a while before I can so much as look at them without feeling ill. I got violent stomach flu once after eating a bunch of peanuts and even though it wasn't the peanuts that were responsible I couldn't even HEAR the word "peanut" for about two years without getting queasy.

Yup! Pretty damn important. If these were an iron ration in my survival gear and I was out in the middle of nowhere I would have been totally screwed. It can be hard to replace that much water, depending on where you are.

Oh, man, I can understand why you feel that way, but you might want to reconsider. Not only can you make some really, really tasty stuff with beans, but they're good for you. Not to mention that they're really cheap, which is good for poor folks (like me).

 

[KEmSAT-Survival]

Don't be ashamed of using WIC.
Many people have had to use it before. My wife and I have had to use it...and we both work 40+ hours a week, plus go to college, plus do extra stuff for extra cash (no NOTHING illegal. I clean barn stalls, video/photo horses, etc... for extra cash when the studies allow)
There's a difference between getting a leg up to catch a breath and dragging everybody else down with you. It's only a shame when you live off of it and make it a way of life.

Like most of the people in my state who are on some sort of public assistance.

 

[Shann]

I had never even heard of such a thing until I read a book by Dick Francis where a bunch of people get sick because someone puts ground up raw kidney beans in the food. I thought it was artistic liscense.

Is this common knowledge? I am in my mid 40s, and my Mom had a restaurant for 20 years and I never knew of such a thing.

 

[Joben]

Riding the porcelain bus isn't fun. BOIL your beans, folks!

does this apply to fresh green beans?

 

[dawsonbob]

I had never even heard of such a thing until I read a book by Dick Francis where a bunch of people get sick because someone puts ground up raw kidney beans in the food. I thought it was artistic liscense.

Is this common knowledge? I am in my mid 40s, and my Mom had a restaurant for 20 years and I never knew of such a thing.

Hey, I remember that book. Love Dick Francis.

Is it common knowledge? Depends on where you are. Most people in the United States aren't intimately involved with their beans: they get them from a can (yuck). On the other hand, a housewife in a poor third world country would never think of mentioning it to you, because it's one of those things that everybody knows, so it goes without saying. In other words, it's pretty common knowledge there.

Poisoning from undercooked red beans is actually fairly common, just because people don't know how to cook them. They're easy to cook, they're cheap and versatile, and they're good for you. There are lots and lots of recipes online (black beans and rice: yum).

Enjoy.

 

[DrivebyTrucker]

I had no idea either. I think I have cooked them overnight in a crock pot many times without feeling sick.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

does this apply to fresh green beans?

Nope. Different kind of bean. Green beans are totally safe.

Oh, man, I can understand why you feel that way, but you might want to reconsider. Not only can you make some really, really tasty stuff with beans, but they're good for you. Not to mention that they're really cheap, which is good for poor folks (like me).

Oh, I know, which is why I wanted to get them. But once you develop a food aversion it's a psychological trigger that creates a physiological response. So if I see beans right now I feel physically queasy. It's a natural defense mechanism to prevent you from going back and eating something that (your body thinks) just made you ill.

Don't be ashamed of using WIC.
Many people have had to use it before. My wife and I have had to use it...and we both work 40+ hours a week, plus go to college, plus do extra stuff for extra cash (no NOTHING illegal. I clean barn stalls, video/photo horses, etc... for extra cash when the studies allow)
There's a difference between getting a leg up to catch a breath and dragging everybody else down with you. It's only a shame when you live off of it and make it a way of life.

Like most of the people in my state who are on some sort of public assistance.

Oh, trust me, I'm loving it. Makes life SO much less stressful with balancing bills right now. I wouldn't even think of abusing a public assistance program, but WIC was built for folks in our conditions, so I figure I'd be crazy NOT to sign on. Many such programs actually have problems with UNDER-use, believe it or not. It's unemployment that more folks tend to abuse, since everyone knows about it.

 

[tenkara]

If you can pick up a slab of salt pork on sale (it's cheap enough to begin with) you can cook the beans with it. All that pork goodness usually removes the aversion to beans. Or try black beans instead! I actually prefer those with pork, chilis, a bit of lime, and a whole lot of garlic.

 

[sherlockbonez]

This will be one useful thing you learn at college that you'll never forget!!

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

This will be one useful thing you learn at college that you'll never forget!!

Amen to that!

 

[Bushman5]

Wow. You have my sympathy.

I might mention that you really don't have to soak the beans overnight; in fact, overnight soaking is not even the best or safest way. You do have to start ahead of time though. In the future, use what's called the "quick soak" method. Why? Well, it eliminates soaking overnight, and double boils the beans, which helps eliminate the toxins. How's it done? Put the desired amount of beans in a pot, cover with the prescribed amount of water (usually about 2 inches above the top of the beans), and bring to a boil. Boil those little suckers for 4 minutes, and turn off the heat. Let them cool, then drain off the water you boiled them in. Refill the pot with water to cover the beans by about an inch, wait at least two hours, then cook according to the original recipe. Is there any difference in taste? Nope. A lot of research has been done on this (by culinary people, universities, etc.) and there has been no discernible difference in taste using this method vs overnight soaking. Oh, and because of the extra boiling process, it's actually safer, so you won't have to develop a strong relationship with your porcelain.

Enjoy.

+1 :thumbup: good stuff

 

[dawsonbob]

+1 :thumbup: good stuff

Thanks, man. I try to help where I can and, since I've been cooking for a long time, this was something I knew a little about. Originally I learned because I didn't want to eat out of cans, or eat fast food every night. Then I found out how many women couldn't cook, and lured them in with a promise of an exotic meal.

 

[moonwilson]

If you can pick up a slab of salt pork on sale (it's cheap enough to begin with) you can cook the beans with it. All that pork goodness usually removes the aversion to beans. Or try black beans instead! I actually prefer those with pork, chilis, a bit of lime, and a whole lot of garlic.

+1 to salt pork. Makes for cheap & tasty bean eatin'. :thumbup:

 

[dawsonbob]

+1 to salt pork. Makes for cheap & tasty bean eatin'. :thumbup:

Roger that :thumbup: Heck, even plain old bacon works well. If you have bacon or salt pork, some onions, some garlic, a few herbs and spices and a little imagination, you can make some truly tasty meals on the cheap.