Adzuki

 
Appearance small, reddish brown
Flavor nutty, sweet
Culinary often used in Asian cuisine; particularly popular in Japanese cooking for confections
Cooking Time 3/4 to 1 hour

Baby Lima

 
Appearance flat-shaped, creamy white
Flavor rich, buttery
Culinary soups, stews and casseroles; or simply cooked with herbs and spices
Cooking Time 1 hour

Black Bean

 
Appearance small ovals with deep black skins; dark-cream-to-gray flesh
Flavor mild, sweet, earthy; soft texture
Culinary sometimes called turtle beans; used in classic Latin American,Caribbean and Southwestern (U.S.) cooking in soups, stews, sauces
Cooking Time 1 to 1½ hours

Blackeye

 
Appearance kidney shape; white skin with small black eye, very fine wrinkles
Flavor scented aroma, creamy texture, distinctive flavor
Culinary originally from Africa, still very common there; also called cowpeas or black-eyed peas; cook rapidly with no pre-soaking needed
Cooking Time ½ to 1 hour

Cranberry

 
Appearance small rounded beans, ivory color with red markings that disappear on cooking
Flavor creamy texture; subtle, nut-like taste
Culinary a favorite in northern Italian, Spanish and Portuguese cuisines
Cooking Time 3/4 to 1 hour

Dark Red Kidney

 
Appearance large, kidney-shaped, deep reddish-brown
Flavor robust, full-bodied, soft texture
Culinary

often used in chili; popular in salads; paired with rice

Cooking Time 1½ to 2 hours

Garbanzo

 
Appearance beige to pale yellow
Flavor nutlike taste, buttery texture
Culinary called chickpeas; especially popular in Middle Eastern,Indian dishes — hummus, falafels, curries
Cooking Time 1 to 1½ hours

Great Northen

 
Appearance flat, kidney-shaped, medium-sized, white
Flavor mild, delicate, take on flavors of other foods with which they’re cooked
Culinary

popular in France in cassoulet (a white bean casserole); in U.S., traditionally prepared as Boston baked beans

Cooking Time 3/4 to 1 hour

Large Lima

 
Appearance flat shape, ivory color
Flavor smooth, creamy, sweet
Culinary sometimes called “butter beans”; used in American succotash; good substitute for potatoes or rice; excellent in soups, casseroles
Cooking Time 1 to 1½ hours

Light Red Kidney

 
Appearance large, kidney-shaped
Flavor robust, full-bodied flavor, soft texture
Culinary popular in Caribbean region, Portugal, Spain; most often used in chili, salads; often paired with rice
Cooking Time 1 to 1½ hours

Navy

 
Appearance small white ovals
Flavor mild flavor, powdery texture
Culinary called pea beans; most often used in pork and beans, baked beans; also used in soups and stews; are great pureed
Cooking Time 1½ to 2 hours

Pink

 
Appearance small, pale-pink; turn reddish brown when cooked
Flavor rich, meaty with slightly powdery texture
Culinary related to kidney beans; often used in chili; a favorite in Old West (U.S.) recipes
Cooking Time 1 hour

Pinto

 
Appearance medium ovals; mottled beige and brown
Flavor earthy flavor, powdery texture
Culinary closely related to red kidney beans; when cooked, lose natural mottling on skins and turn brown; most often used in refried beans, Tex-Mex, Mexican dishes
Cooking Time 1½ to 2 hours

Small Red

 
Appearance dark red color, similar to red kidney but smaller
Flavor similar to red kidney
Culinary

also called Mexican red beans; hold both shape and firmness when cooked; most often used in soups, salads, chili, Creole dishes

Cooking Time 1 to 1½ hours