"Floater" beans

[patrickamory]

When I soak dried beans I usually get a few that float to the top.

What do most people do with floaters? Are they a sign of older beans - should they be discarded and not cooked with the rest?

[weinoo]

I just cook 'em along with the rest.

[Ttogull]

I called Rancho Gordo and asked exactly this question. I had read elsewhere to discard them. RG said to do exactly what weinoo says.

Not that you asked but I always sort the beans on a cookie sheet to look for bad ones and rocks and clumps of dirt. I have found quite a few nonbeans and a few bad beans.

[annabelle]

Not from Rancho Gordo, of course.

[patrickamory]

Thanks all. Interestingly today all the floaters are now at the bottom of the bowl. (Yes, they are RG. Scarlet runners.)

[Ttogull]

Not from Rancho Gordo, of course.

I know you meant this tongue in cheek, but I find that the better sources of beans are more likely to have rocks and stuff. I have never run across rocks in the mass grocery store beans (before I started getting heirloom beans). I have found a few bad beans, but mainly in beans that have very limited distribution. I tried my hand at growing beans - with some success - and see how this can happen. Not a big deal, unless you bite a rock.

[annabelle]

I've had the same experience. It kind of makes me mad to pay for the rocks.

Edited December 8, 2013 by annabelle (log)

[Ttogull]

Thanks all. Interestingly today all the floaters are now at the bottom of the bowl. (Yes, they are RG. Scarlet runners.)

I meant to ask earlier what dish you are using the scarlet runners in? My usual is with pork shoulder. I'm always looking for new ideas!

[patrickamory]

taking a cue from something Steve Sando said, I roasted two whole heads of garlic, and used that with some roasted chicken stock, cloud ear mushrooms (don't ask), chopped onions and chiles, the surviving garden herbs and the bean broth. Pictures soon in the Dinner thread.

[lindag]

This hasn't to do with 'floaters' but I thought I'd add that I've been making the most wonderful bean soup with Bob's Red Mill 13-bean soup mix. I love Bob's products. I used to live quite near their outlet in Milwaukee OR and it was a real treat to run in and look through their products.

[patrickamory]

And here are pics.

http://forums.egullet.org/topic/146451-dinner-2013-part-6/?p=1945016