Navy Beans: Navy beans, which have a pale ivory or white color, are the smallest of various white beans. The beans, named for the maritime service branch, have been a staple food in the US Navy for over 200 years, though they have various other names, including Boston beans, Yankee beans, haricots, or pea beans.
The cooking time refers to the time needed to cook dry beans after you soak them. If a recipe calls for white beans, you can use Great Northern beans, navy beans, or white kidney beans (also called cannellini beans). Black Beans are medium-size, oval-shaped beans with matte black skin.
What are white beans also called?
White beans are one of the many varieties of common beans domesticated in North and South America. Several types exist, though the most common are cannellini beans, which are also called white kidney beans.
Navy (Pea) Beans
Also called pea beans, Navy beans are small, oval-shaped, and quick-cooking. Because they get creamy when cooked, they’re perfect for mashing against the side of the pot, pureeing in dips, and thickening soups, stews, ragouts, and more.
Related Foods
The navy bean is a pearly white pea-shaped bean. It got its name because it was a staple food of the US Navy in the early 20th century. Navy beans are part of the Phaseolus vulgaris family, also known as the “common bean” family.
Best navy beans substitute options
- Great Northern Beans. Great northern beans are a great way to substitute for navy beans in a recipe.
- Canellini beans. You can also use canellini beans as a replacement for navy beans.
- Butter beans.
- Flageolet beans.
- Red kidney beans.
- Black beans.
- Pinto beans.
- Mayocoba beans.
What’s the best substitute for white beans?
8 Best Substitutes for Cannellini Beans
- Red Kidney Beans.
- Great Northern Beans.
- Navy Beans.
- Baby Lima Beans.
- Butter Beans (Lima)
- Garbanzo Beans.
- Borlotti Beans.
- Black Beans.
Navy Beans
This particular small white bean is known by many names, including white pea bean, small white bean, Boston bean, Yankee bean, or Fagioli bean. They’re called Navy beans, not for their color, but for their presence as a staple product used by the US Navy.
What are the best white beans?
Cannellini, also called white kidneys or fagioli in Italian, are 1/2-inch long, cream colored, with a mild earthiness. Great Northern beans are slightly smaller and sweeter. The best canned white beans are barely salted and expertly pressure-cooked in the can.
What are white beans good for?
White beans, also known as white navy beans, offer extraordinary health benefits. They are loaded with antioxidants and provide a good supply of detoxifying molybdenum. They are also a good source of fiber and protein and produce alpha-amylase inhibitors which help regulate fat storage in the body.
Which beans are white beans?
White beans are a group of legumes with white casings and starchy insides which include navy beans, cannellini beans, “great northern” beans, and lima beans. Navy beans, great northern beans, and cannellini beans are grown from the Phaseolus vulgaris plant, while lima beans are grown on the Phaseolus lunatus plant.
What are large white beans called?
Sometimes called white kidney beans, cannellini beans are the largest type of white bean, which makes them meatier than other white beans like Great Northern beans or navy beans.
Which bean is used for baked beans?
navy beans
The beans in “baked” beans are navy beans, common beans, Phaseolus vulgaris, the same and vital species that gives us kidney, cannellini, french, black, pinto, haricot, flageolet, borlotti and marrow.
What is the healthiest bean to eat?
- Chickpeas. Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein.
- Lentils. Lentils are a great source of vegetarian protein and can be a good addition to soups and stews.
- Peas. Peas are also a type of legume.
- Kidney beans.
- Black beans.
- Soybeans.
- Pinto beans.
- Navy beans.
Great northern beans are large, oval, and have a thin skin. In comparison, navy beans are much smaller, plumper, and have thicker skin. The flavors of great northern and navy beans are both delicate and mild. It’s difficult to distinguish between them by flavor alone.
Great northern beans resemble lima beans but have a thin skin, taking about 45 to 60 minutes to cook. While both navy beans and great northern beans have a very similar, subtle flavor, their key difference lies in their texture, making great northern beans the ideal legume when you’re making more delicate dishes.
While navy beans are great in soups specifically designed for them or in dishes like baked beans (where the acidic molasses aids in keeping bean skins intact during the long cooking), we would avoid using them as a substitute for cannellini beans.
No, you’ll find a bewildering world of things labeled great northern white beans, navy beans, cannellini beans and more. While these are all technically white beans, these aren’t just different names for the same type of bean. In fact, each of these is actually a distinct varietal.
What are the small white beans called?
navy beans
Small white beans, known as navy beans, are oval-shaped, ivory-colored beans that have a smooth exterior surface. One of the most common ways to prepare small white beans is in a baked bean recipe.
Soaking your navy beans in cold water overnight helps soften them and shortens the cooking time. If you don’t want to soak beans, be prepared to cook them a little longer.
What are the best tasting beans?
Mild in flavor, dense and smooth once cooked, navy beans, like pintos, are ideal for absorbing the flavors of other ingredients. They’re the traditional choice for crowd-pleasing barbecue beans and classic Boston baked beans, but they’re equally at home in a white chili with chicken.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.