1 Pre-Soak The Beans, Either By Covering With Two Inches Of Water And Soaking Overnight, Or By Pouring Boiling Water Over Them And Soaking Them For An Hour. 2 Drain The Beans And Put Them In A Medium-Sized Pot And Cover With 2 Inches Of Water. Bring To A Simmer, Cover, Reduce The Heat To A Low Simmer And Cook Until The Beans Are Just Soft Enough To Eat, About 1 Hour, Give Or Take 15 Minutes Or So, Depending On How Old The Beans Are (Older Beans Will Take Longer To Cook). 3 Preheat The Oven To 325