What's the Difference Between Kidney Beans, Red Beans, and Pinto Beans?

Beans come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and flavors. But even so, when you're trying to figure out the differences between varieties and which bean you should use for dinner tonight, it can sometimes be confusing.

A group of beans that are often confused with each other is kidney beans, red beans, and pinto beans. All three are very popular in similar dishes, usually in southern cooking, stews, and baked beans. They even look alike!

While similar, each of these different beans brings something special to each recipe they're used in! But, which one should you use for dinner tonight?

Of the three, kidney beans are clearly the largest and plumpest. When she looked side by side with the other beans, the kidney bean was also more pronounced in shape, not round, but more like a kidney. Go figure it out! Their thicker, dark red skin makes them perfect for and commonly used in many long-cooked dishes such as chili, baked beans, and jambalaya, where they are very good at absorbing and absorbing other flavors in the dish. However, they are also a great hearty and healthy protein topping for salads.

While many people think red beans and kidney beans are the same, they are actually two different beans! The visual difference is immediately apparent when you place one side by side. Kidney beans are one of the largest beans, while red beans are much smaller and keep their classic oval shape. While both are red, kidney beans are a darker, darker red, while red beans are brighter, almost pink, red in color, and have a more "beanie" flavor. Despite the differences, red beans do appear frequently in rice and stew recipes similar to kidney and pinto beans.

Pinto, the Spanish word for "paint", is named for its brown, striped appearance during birth. Once cooked, though, they take on a firmer reddish-brown color, which makes them look similar to red and kidney beans. However, pinto beans stand out for their flavor and texture. Compared to the other two, pinto beans have a softer, creamier texture and a more pronounced nutty flavor, making them perfect for mashing. They are one of the more prominent legumes to the south and south of the border, such as rice and beans, soups, peppers, and baked beans.

So, which beans should you use in dinner recipes? These three beans are used in many of the same kinds of recipes, but when it comes to Latin or Mexican dishes, pinto beans are the definite choice!

The above briefly introduces the differences between the three kinds of beans. If you want to know more or want to buy agricultural products, please contact us.

Goodluck is a professional agricultural product wholesale supplier. Our main products include red beans, kidney beans, pumpkin seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and mung beans. In addition, we are working hard to develop new products to meet different needs. The company has a number of advanced production lines, farm bases, and warehouses to ensure that our output is large and stable.