No, dried beans do not necessarily need to be soaked before cooking them in a slow cooker, but soaking can still be beneficial for some reasons. Let's explore the options:
No soaking: If you choose not to soak the dried beans, you can still cook them directly in the slow cooker. Keep in mind that this will require a longer cooking time, usually around 8 to 10 hours on low heat or 4 to 6 hours on high heat, depending on the type and size of the beans. Cooking unsoaked beans in a slow cooker might also result in some beans remaining slightly firmer than others.
Quick soaking: If you want to reduce the cooking time and ensure more even cooking, you can do a quick soaking method before adding the beans to the slow cooker. Here's how to do it: Rinse the beans thoroughly, then place them in a pot with enough water to cover them by about 2 inches. Bring the water to a boil and let it boil for 2 minutes. After that, remove the pot from the heat, cover it, and let the beans soak for about an hour. Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the slow cooker. Quick soaking can reduce the overall cooking time, but you'll still need to cook the beans in the slow cooker until they are tender.
Traditional soaking: The traditional method of soaking beans overnight in water is also an option. Rinse the beans, place them in a bowl, and cover them with water. Allow them to soak for at least 8 hours or overnight. Drain and rinse the beans before adding them to the slow cooker. This method will significantly reduce the cooking time and can result in more evenly cooked beans.
So, while it's not strictly necessary to soak dried beans before cooking them in a slow cooker, it can help with reducing cooking time and producing more evenly cooked beans. Choose the method that fits your schedule and preferences best.