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What Are Great Northern Beans? Discover Their Unique Qualities & Uses

Editorial Team
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
Editorial Team
What Are Great Northern Beans?

Great Northern beans, a staple in North American cuisine, are prized for their versatility and subtle flavor. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), these beans are not only a rich source of protein but also provide essential nutrients like fiber and iron. Smaller than cannellini beans yet larger than navy beans, Great Northerns are a perfect ingredient for enhancing the nutritional value of soups, stews, and casseroles. Legumes, including Great Northern beans, have seen a steady increase in consumption due to their health benefits. When pondering what are great northern beans, consider them a healthful addition to your diet that can be easily swapped with other white beans to enrich your culinary creations.

 

Basic Characteristics

Dry Great Northern beans.
Dry Great Northern beans.

Like most white beans, great northerns belong to the family Phaseolus vulgaris. They are distinguished primarily by their small size and uniform cream color, though the leaves and stalks of the plant also give some clues. Great northern beans are typically tall and spindly, with round flat leaves. They grow quite well in colder temperatures, and can withstand fluctuations in weather and warmth better than most other varieties.

Cannellini beans, which can be substituted for Great Northern beans.
Cannellini beans, which can be substituted for Great Northern beans.

When it comes to taste, the beans are usually quite mild whether raw or cooked. They typically have a smooth texture that “melts” when it hits the mouth. Many cooks find that the somewhat neutral flavor of the beans can serve as a good accompaniment to a range of other dishes that are both savory and sweet.

Common Uses

Great northern beans are perhaps most popular in soups and stews, as they tend to keep their form even after prolonged boiling. They also add a lot of bulk without altering the taste of the broth and can emphasize and accentuate the flavors of other more savory ingredients. Many cooks will add these beans to recipes as a way of “stretching” the dish, or making it go farther to feed more people. Soups with vegetables, rice, and meats like stewed beef or sausage can all benefit from the addition of this sort of white bean.

Some cooks choose to add beans to cornbread recipes.
Some cooks choose to add beans to cornbread recipes.

Cooks may also put them in casseroles, particularly those with poultry and vegetables. The beans often serve to bind other ingredients together, which can create a more pleasing and easily servable dish. They often prevent casseroles from getting too soupy, since they tend to absorb a lot of moisture.

Of course, it is also possible to serve great northern beans all on their own, often topped with butter or spices as a side dish. Cooks may also add them to homemade bread recipes, particularly cornbread; this gives the bread a mildly sweet flavor while adding a lot of moisture and density. The beans can also be whipped or blended to make a savory dip for crackers or toasted bread.

Where and How to Buy

Like great northern beans, rattlesnake beans are popular in stews.
Like great northern beans, rattlesnake beans are popular in stews.

Great northern beans are most commonly available in supermarkets and from farmers in the United States and Canada, mostly because this is where the beans grow naturally and are cultivated. It is generally acknowledged that the “great north” where the beans take their name is the upper-Midwestern United States, including states like North Dakota and Minnesota, and the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Ontario. These regions remain the primary growing areas, though the beans are distributed commercially throughout both countries and can be found relatively easily.

Great northern beans can be a good addition to beef stew.
Great northern beans can be a good addition to beef stew.

Consumers can usually find the beans for sale in one of three ways. Fresh ones are usually held out as being the “best,” but their availability is often limited to farms and seasonal farmer’s markets. Most commercial shops sell the beans either canned or dried, and there are advantages and disadvantages to either option. Dried beans often have the closest flavor to their fresh counterparts, but must be reconstituted — a process that often involves hours of soaking and slow boiling. Canned beans are certainly more convenient, but may come preserved in chemical solutions or have extra salt added to them to help preserve their color and flavor. These additives aren’t usually harmful, but can take something away when it comes to flavor and nutrition.

Nutritional Profile

Great northern beans are typically regarded as quite nutritious. They are high in protein and dietary fiber, and are excellent sources of iron, magnesium, and folate, all of which are essential minerals. They are also very low in calories and contain very few natural sugars. The beans are a favorite among vegetarians, as they are often an easy way to replace some of the nutrients that might otherwise be lost when meat is omitted from the diet.

Substitutions

Cooks who cannot find great northern beans can usually substitute nearly any other white bean quite effectively. Cannellini beans are a good choice, as are navy beans. Even small lima beans will work in a pinch. The main goal is to find a bean that is similar in color, texture, and taste, and when it comes to the white bean family, there are many options. Availability often depends on season and geographic region, but there is almost always something in most marketplaces that will work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Great Northern Beans?

Great Northern Beans are oval-shaped white beans native to North America. They have a creamy texture and mild, nutty flavor and are a great source of protein, dietary fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. Their versatility makes them popular ingredients in soups, casseroles, and baked beans.

How do you cook Great Northern Beans?

There are several ways to cook Great Northern Beans, including boiling, pressure cooking, and slow cooking. To boil or simmer, rinse the beans and add them to boiling water with a pinch of salt, then simmer for 1-2 hours or until tender. To pressure cook, add the beans and water to a pressure cooker and cook for 30-45 minutes. To slow cook, add the beans and water to a slow cooker and cook for 4-6 hours.

What is the nutritional value of Great Northern Beans?

Great Northern Beans are a nutrient-rich food, offering a good source of protein, dietary fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. One cup of cooked Great Northern Beans provides approximately 225 calories, 15 grams of protein, 41 grams of carbohydrates, and 8 grams of dietary fiber. Additionally, they are a good source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

What is the best way to store Great Northern Beans?

To maintain the freshness and quality of Great Northern Beans, it is best to store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to a year. You can also store them in the refrigerator for up to six months, but keep them away from moisture and heat to prevent spoilage.

How do Great Northern Beans differ from Navy Beans?

While both Great Northern Beans and Navy Beans are white beans, they differ in size, texture, and flavor. Great Northern Beans are larger and have a mild, nutty flavor, while Navy Beans are smaller and have a mild, earthy flavor. Great Northern Beans hold their shape well when cooked, while Navy Beans break down more easily.

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Discussion Comments

anon1006549

Marfax beans are another great bean from the state of Maine that work well in soups, stews and baked beans, or used in the slow cooker for about 8 hours on low to medium heat. These beans are very hearty and full of good flavor too. This is one bean you cannot go wrong with when you desire a great stew or soup and just good baked beans. We have used Marfax beans for over 40 years with great success every time with no complaints or leftovers.

anon1004166

How long will a bean last?

I have some in a container that are 21 years old. Are they safe to eat?

anon356919

What exactly are Great Northern Beans? Are they just a common bean known by a different name perhaps? --Vance

amypollick

Cornbread is always a good companion for beans: great northern, white, navy, pinto... I admit I'm odd, though. I like them with ketchup. Yeah, I know. I'll eat them without it, but the ketchup adds a nice tang.

anon194869

My favorite method for cooking beans is in a slow cooker. The beans get soft and creamy and make a good bit of flavorful broth, which is similar to a gravy. We put them in bowls and serve with cornbread.

anon144817

Beans are easiest to master by using a pressure cooker.

Indeed, practically everything is better when made in a pressure cooker. Green beans, broccoli, asparagus, artichokes, all from about six to 15 minutes of pressurized cooking. All nutrients are kept intact in the vegetables, not dissipated in the pan of boiling water you're usually cooking, or steaming, your veggies in.

Don't even get me started on baby-back ribs, beef ribs, corned-beef, pot roast, chicken, pork chops, all from about 30 minutes to an hour. I mean, really, have you ever heard of the tenderest pot roast you've ever tasted being ready in an hour?

Everything comes out with that 'falling-off-the-bone, melt-in-your-mouth' texture and taste we're all dying for, but can't quite seem to achieve using regular pots and pans for braising, roasting, blah blah blah.

When it comes to beans, here's the method. I'm using one package (16-oz/1-lb) of beans from the supermarket – roughly two cups of raw beans.

Soak your beans overnight as usual. Drain the water, rinse the beans, put them in the pressure cooker.

Cover with water to two inches above the beans. Add a tablespoon of oil. This keeps the beans from foaming too much.

Lock the lid in place and turn the heat to high. When the pressure cooker starts steaming, (or the rocker starts rocking), is when you start your countdown. I pressure-cook my beans for 12 minutes, and let the pressure release naturally, (i.e., don't run the pot under cold water and don't use the steam-release valve). Voila! you're done. Perfect beans.

Now then, if you want gasless beans, *do* use the quick-release method of stopping the cooking as mentioned above.

Then, place the pressure cooker in the sink, (if it's not already there), open the lid, and add 1/2 cup of baking soda. That's what I use for every two cups of raw beans.

The action of the baking soda will astound you. Give the beans a stir with a wooden or plastic spoon while you watch the liquid foam up and spill over the sides of your pot. It's crazy!

But all that foam is all the gas being released that we release if we eat beans that haven't had this treatment. All the gas in the beans goes down the drain instead of being passed out of us! Never again will you suffer from terrible gas after eating beans if you use this method.

Once the baking soda action is done, (it takes just a minute or so), pour the beans into a colander or strainer and rinse. Then, set aside.

Because I use this method, I always cook my beans first and set them aside to add to my soup after it's done cooking. Neither I, nor anyone else in my family, will stand for eating beans that are not “gasless” anymore.

So, make the beans. Set aside. Then add everything else to make your soup to the pressure cooker, and cook on high for anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Quick-release the pressure, open the lid, add the beans back in, lock the lid, bring up to high again, and pressure cook for about five more minutes. And you've got great-tasting, gasless bean soup.

anon137402

Hard water will cause the beans not to soften when cooking. I never soak GN's. I wash them, pick out the junk (sticks, stones), boil like crazy with ham, celery, carrots and salt till they are done. Great every time.

anon96437

Also, if you added any salt or acidic ingredients before they were completely softened it will cause the beans to not soften any further. I have done this myself a couple times and almost gave up on soaking beans altogether concluding myself to be "bean" challenged forever.

anon82934

The beans could have been old. It's best to check the "sell by" date if buying them specially but any beans that have been lurking at the back or the cupboard for more than a year may as well be thrown away as they will be difficult, if not impossible, to soften up with cooking.

anon65510

Unless the beans are real old, you can cook them forever and they will not get soft.

anon50879

Soak them overnight then cook for 2 hours on the stove. Boiling at first then simmer. They will be tender.

jqcpotter

I have a recipe that calls for great northern beans. I followed the package directions to cook/soften them. I have now cooked them in the recipe in a slow cooker for 8-9 hours. The beans are on the hard side, not creamy or soft like most dried beans which become hydrated when cooked.

Is this the way great northerns are supposed to be, texture wise?

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    • Dry Great Northern beans.
      By: tfazevedo
      Dry Great Northern beans.
    • Cannellini beans, which can be substituted for Great Northern beans.
      By: Bert Folsom
      Cannellini beans, which can be substituted for Great Northern beans.
    • Some cooks choose to add beans to cornbread recipes.
      By: jam4travel
      Some cooks choose to add beans to cornbread recipes.
    • Like great northern beans, rattlesnake beans are popular in stews.
      By: Elena Schweitzer
      Like great northern beans, rattlesnake beans are popular in stews.
    • Great northern beans can be a good addition to beef stew.
      By: Joe Gough
      Great northern beans can be a good addition to beef stew.