Baked Beans – Instant Pot

 Directions

1. Overnight Soaking Method: Place 1 pound dried navy beans and 1 1/2 tbsp fine table salt in a large container. Pour 6 cups cold water in the large container and give it a few stir. Allow beans to soak overnight for at least 8 – 16 hours. If your house is very warm, place the large container in the fridge to avoid fermentation.
2. Quick Soaking Method: If you’re short on time or forgot to soak the beans overnight, you can use this quick soaking method instead. The result will not be as good as the overnight soaking method. Place 1 pound dried navy beans, 1.5 tablespoons fine table salt, and 6 cups cold water in the pressure cooker. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 0 minute + 30 minutes Natural Release.
3. Drain Beans: Discard the soaked water and drain the navy beans through a mesh strainer. Rinse the beans with cold tap water. Drain well. The soaked beans should almost double in weight.
4. Render Bacon: Place chopped bacon in Pressure Cooker and turn heat to medium (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). Stir occasionally and allow the bacon bits to crisp (~3 minutes). Add in diced onion, freshly ground black pepper and sauté for a minute. Add in chopped garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant (~30 seconds).
5. Create Molasses Mixture: While the bacon is rendering in pressure cooker, combine 1/4 cup blackstrap molasses, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, and 1 3/4 cup cold water in a 1 litre glass measuring cup. Mix well.
6. Deglaze: Pour 1/2 cup of the molasses mixture in the Instant Pot. Deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom of the pan and mix them into the mixture.
7. Pressure Cook Navy Beans: Add 1/4 teaspoon fine table salt, 2 bay leaves, soaked navy beans and the remaining molasses mixture in the pressure cooker. Mix well and make sure all the beans are submerged in the molasses mixture. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 20 minutes + 20 minutes Natural Release. After 20 minutes, turn the venting knob to venting position to release the remaining pressure. Open the lid carefully.
8. Season and Thicken Baked Beans: Add 2 teaspoons dijon mustard, and 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar into the cooked baked beans. Mix well. Press Sauté button to heat the pot and stir to thicken the baked beans to desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more blackstrap molasses, salt, or vinegar if necessary. For reference, we added in another tbsp of blackstrap molasses.
9. Serve: Serve this delicious sweet ‘n smokey baked beans as a side dish at your BBQ, picnics, potlucks, or dinner.