Quicker than opening a can of beans, less expensive, and creamier, fresher tasting, we keep cooked black beans frozen in ice cube trays.

The best black beans are pole grown black beans, they are larger. If you have bought beautiful dried black beans, called turtle black beans, or frijoles negros de tortuga, put a handfull in a sunny spot in your garden, they will grow.

The frozen precooked black bean ice cubes are one ounce, one tablespoon portions, ready in 2 minutes, microwave heated, for tacos, tostadas, burritos, tamales, salads.

For my recipes, I simmer my beans without presoak in a big cast iron pot, three hours, and I add an extra cup of dried black beans to fill an ice cube tray to have handy when needed.