Soaking dried beans is an essential step to help soften them and reduce cooking time. While soaking for 48 hours may be excessive and could lead to over-soaked beans with a mushy texture, a more reasonable soaking time is between 8 to 12 hours.
For most types of dried beans, here's a general guideline for soaking times:
Overnight Soaking Method: This is the most common and convenient method. Place the dried beans in a large bowl and cover them with about 2 inches of water above the beans. Let them soak for 8 to 12 hours, usually overnight. Drain and rinse the beans before cooking.
Quick Soak Method: If you need to shorten the soaking time, you can use the quick soak method as mentioned in the previous response. Bring the beans to a boil in a pot of water, then remove from heat, cover, and let them sit for 1 hour before draining and rinsing.
It's important to note that some beans, like lentils and split peas, do not require soaking as they cook relatively quickly. However, larger beans such as kidney beans, black beans, navy beans, and pinto beans benefit from soaking to achieve a better texture and even cooking.
After soaking, discard the soaking water and cook the beans in fresh water or broth. The cooking time will vary depending on the type and age of the beans, as well as the method of cooking (stove-top, pressure cooker, slow cooker, etc.). Generally, it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to cook soaked beans until they are soft and tender.