To soften lentil beans effectively, a reliable method involves careful heat management during cooking.
Recommended Cooking Method
Based on experience, the most dependable way to achieve perfectly tender lentils is through a specific heat progression:
- Start High: Bring the lentils in water to a rapid simmer. This initial heat helps start the cooking process quickly.
- Reduce Heat: Immediately after reaching a rapid simmer, reduce the heat significantly to low.
- Gentle Cooking: Continue cooking on this low heat for the remainder of the time. The goal is to maintain a state where you see just a few bubbles in the water and some gentle movement in the lentils. This gentle cooking prevents the lentils from breaking apart while allowing them to soften evenly.
This method ensures that the lentils cook through to a tender texture without becoming mushy, which can happen with aggressive boiling.
