Black Beans Vs Pinto Beans: A comparison

Black Beans Vs Pinto Beans: A comparison

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Beans are one of the best vegetables out there as they are rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, fibers, vitamins, and antioxidants. Furthermore, because there are so many different types of beans, you can cook and eat them in a variety of different dishes and ways.

Pinto beans and black beans are two such varieties of beans. Both are very delicious and rich in useful nutrients, however, the two differ in terms of their appearance, taste, texture, uses, etc. So let us take a look at the comparison between these two beans.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Appearance

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Appearance

To compare both, let us examine how the two beans look from the outside first.

The word “pinto” translates to “painted” in Spanish. These are also a variety of common beans. Pinto beans come in a variety of colors, including greenish-yellow, purple, and pink. They are, however, mostly reddish in color.

The dotted patterns on the skin give the impression that they were indeed painted in watercolor! Pinto beans are slightly bigger than black beans in size. The dotted points disappear when the beans are cooked.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Appearance

Again, black bean or Black Turtle Bean is a variety of common beans. As the name suggests, these beans are black in color. They are also shiny and small. The outer shell of the bean is hard, giving it the name “turtle” bean.

Again, the inside, which is also known as the keel, is white in color. These beans are slightly boat-shaped, kind of like kidney beans.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Taste

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Taste

Both black beans and pinto beans pack a punch in terms of flavor when they are added to any dish. However, these two beans vary slightly in taste. 

Pinto beans, after being cooked, give off a nutty flavor with deep, earthy notes. They have a flavor that is very rich, rounded, and creamy, and they dissolve easily in the mouth.

The smooth and consistent taste of pinto beans makes it easy for them to combine with a wide variety of other flavors. As a result, you can find pinto beans in many different kinds of dishes.

Moving on to black beans, you may also notice that they have a slightly nutty flavor. In addition, they have a touch of sweetness, and the flavor is very meaty. However, the flavor profile of black beans is very light and mild, making them versatile in terms of usage.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Texture

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Texture

The texture of the two beans varies quite a bit. Both, as we are aware, are members of the Fabaceae family, are hard when raw, and therefore need to be soaked for a sizable amount of time prior to cooking. However, pinto beans become soft, mushy, and creamy in texture after cooking.

On the other hand, black beans are hard and crunchy in texture. Therefore, they hold their shape even after cooking. As a result, they are resistant to breaking down even when subjected to high temperatures and high levels of humidity. 

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Use

Due to differences in taste, texture, and place of origin, pinto beans and black beans are used differently in dishes.

Pinto beans are commonly used in South American and Mexican cuisine. Their taste and creamy texture make them the perfect candidate for being used as a filling in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc.

They also go well with creamy dishes like mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, etc. Along with all that, they are most commonly used in making refried beans. In these cases, dried pinto beans work the best.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Use

On the other hand, Creole, Caribbean, and American cultures place the greatest emphasis on the consumption of black beans. In addition, they are frequently used in traditional Indian cooking.

These beans have a firmer consistency, and they maintain their shape quite well, as was mentioned earlier. Because of this, they remain in your stomach for a considerable amount of time.

Therefore, black beans are often used in their own separate dishes. They are additionally utilized in the preparation of stews, soups, and salad bowls. Because black beans have a flavor that is similar to that of meat, many vegans use them as a substitute for meat.

Pinto Beans  Vs Black Beans: Nutritional Value

 Both Pinto beans and black beans have significant amounts of protein and fiber, so much so, that many vegan people use beans as substitutes for meat. However, these two differ a little when it comes to specific nutritional values.

Speaking about the specifics, 1 cup of cooked pinto beans contains 245 calories, 15 grams of proteins, 45 grams of carbs, and 15 grams of fiber among other things. On the other hand, 1 cup of cooked black beans has 227 calories, 15 g of protein, 41 grams of carbs, and 15 grams of fiber.

If we compare the two, we can see that pinto beans contain more energy and carbohydrate than black beans, making it a slightly better food choice in terms of the ratio of necessary nutrients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to soak beans before cooking?

It is a common practice to soak beans for 4 to 12 hours in order to make them soft and ensure that they cook easily. However, soaking sometimes may lead to a loss of flavoring. 

If you want to keep the flavoring intact, you can soak the beans for shorter periods of time and get a pressure cooker to properly cook the beans afterward.

How to know if your pinto beans have gone bad?

How to know if your pinto beans have gone bad?

Pinto beans that have been dried normally are beige or tan in color. If the skin of your pinto beans has become blotchy or spotty, the color has darkened, or there is mold, it is clear that they are no longer suitable for consumption.

Conclusion

To sum up, both pinto and black beans are excellent choices of vegetarian food choices. They are not only rich in nutrients, but also uniquely flavored and textured. Moreover, you can use them in plenty of different dishes because they are so versatile.

Even while pinto beans have somewhat more nutrients than black beans, both are wonderful and may be used interchangeably in your meal. Therefore, you can easily go ahead and eat some beans every day!

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Bella Howard

Bella Howard is a contributing writer and foodie with a particular love of Mexican, Chinese and Euro...

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