The MakeMeThinner Support Forum

[Leah]

In the chili, my beans won't cook. They are always hard. Yesterday, I cooked in the time asked, then placed a cover over the bowl and let it steep for a few minutes. Well, I think that may have cooked 3 of them. LOL Any tips on cooking my beans

[VictoriousNat]

Hi Leah,

I think most folks cook the chili on the stove top. Add some spices, lower the flame and let it simmer. Then let it stand for a bit. I don't think it comes out well in the microwave. So it may be an at home only option for some of us.

[Sarya]

I mix my soup and chili packets with water in the a.m. and let them sit until it's time to eat. If this is at least an hour they will start to be less dehydrated. It's not that they're uncooked, they're just not fully hydrated yet.

[casma500]

Hey leah,

I am so glad I was told about the solution for this as I would have broken a tooth! LOL. I actually make mine the night before. I mix it up and then nuke for 1 minute, then put in the fridge until ready to eat the next day. THANK YOU NANCY, FOR THAT GREAT TIP!!

Nat, I haven't tried it on the stove yet, but may try that over the weekend (when I have a stove to use) to see if it is any better ~

I also do that with the chicken & wild rice soup ~ just makes it easier for me Hope this helps!! Enjoy!

[Mike]

Leah,
I tend to let the Chili and the Chicken and Wild Rice soak.
I mix the chili up and then microwave it for about 40 seconds and then let it sit for at least 20 minutes (usually longer), then I nuke it again for a minute, then eat.
Same for the Chicken and Rice. I used to do the same with Chicken Noodle, but I don't order it any longer.

[petladyinRI]

I tried the stovetop method, the letting it sit for 20 mins. method, etc. What works best for me is to put the soups or chili in a bowl, add the water, stir it with a fork, cover and refrig. it overnight or at least for a few hours, then heat in the micro. It's like a totally different product! I tried pre-nuking, then soaking, but it didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference. So, when I take a bowl of soup or chili out of the refrig., I automatically put a new one in for the next time.

Sue in RI

[GucciGoo]

I add boiling water to the chili, then I nuke it for 1.5 minutes. It softens the beans.

[Jan]

Ohhh Yess
Those rock hard beans. Did you know we always say "we want you to lose pounds NOT teeth!! Make certain and let that chili soak for awhile to soften the little guys right up. Some people do the same with the Minestone and the Chicken and Wild Rice. These guys are dehydrated and need a little TLC to get them back again.
jan

[DogMa]

I usually make a few batches of chili and just stash 'em in the fridge till I'm ready to eat them. I don't bother with the stove, because it's just another thing to wash.

[mel]

I don't bother with the stove, because it's just another thing to wash.

I actually cook everything on the stove... and eat out of the pot.

Less dishes, less loss of food. Haha. Then I just wash it out right away and use the same pot and spoon the next time.

(I do, however, pour the hot drinks into mugs. )

We actually don't use a microwave often enough to give up the counter space, so we've been without one for about a year.

[Leah]

Thank you all for the tips. I will be tryign them all, till I find somehting that works for me

[Elke]

I have found that cooking the chilli the night before is what works best for me then I realized that I didn't have to order the chilli and that works better!