I started cooking dried beans in a thermos overnight and my grocery bill dropped $40 a month, but my roommate says it's gross

Ryan Barnes · 2026-09-18T15:10:04.135937+00:00

So money got tight back in March when my hours got cut at the warehouse, and I was eating a lot of canned beans because they're like a dollar each. Then I read somewhere that you can just dump dried beans in a thermos with boiling water before bed and they're soft by morning. I tried it with a $12 thermos from the hardware store and a pound bag of pinto beans that cost $1.29, and it honestly worked on the second try after I used enough water. That one bag makes like six meals worth, versus paying six bucks for the same amount in cans. My roommate walked in, saw me pouring beans out of a thermos, and said it looked like a science experiment and he'd rather pay for cans. But here's my thing, is the thermos method actually safe for all beans, or are there some you really do need to boil on the stove? And does anyone else think canned is worth the extra money just for not having to plan a day ahead? I want to hear from people who've done both because I'm only two months in.

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I started cooking dried beans in a thermos overnight and my grocery bill dropped $40 a month, but my roommate says it's gross | Budget Friendly Meals - Thought Shares