beans help!

This is the second day I've been simmering a pot of northern beans and they are still firm. Brought them up to a boil again today but no luck on getting them tender. I haven't run into this before. Also, I soaked them from Sunday to Monday about 24 hours, before starting the cooking.
Now what?

 

Did you salt them? Salting often leads to them staying tough (in my experience).

 

That's why I buy cans. I never have good luck with dry beans.

I canned some black beans the other day. If that works out, I might try some pintos and great northerns.

 

Only things I added were onion, brown mustard (little), brown sugar, ketchup (little). No seasoning.

 

Old beans?

 

I've had this happen with brown beans once. After comparing notes, the same thing had happened to two different friends and we had bought the beans at the same store. Bad batch of beans.?

 

Same problem I have had... Google it, tons of info including baking soda

 

Bad beans. Get some from another place. Then follow recipe. Make no changes.

 

I've had that happen on more than one occasion. Very frustrating when you've got all that time into it.
Made some baked beans and followed the recipe, and they were firm. Ate quite a bit of 'em anyway, but didn't like it.
Ended up tossing the rest, which I hated doing. I don't like giving up, so I'm sure I'll try again at some point.

 

Yup-old beans. Now I'm wondering why that would matter since they're dry anyway?
Oh well, squirrels should like the other package!

 

And just when I was going to submit a beans recipe, too!

 

Next time throw in a pinch of baking soda. Sometimes this helps soften them up.

 

Agreed! Turns mine to mush!

 

We get our beans from our local Hannaford. No problems with them, but old beans just are not worth it. My wife has a recipe that calls for a pound of bacon in it. The flavor is just the best. We put 2 cups of cooked beans into freezer bags. That is our measured amount for both of us for one meal. Thaw, reheat one bag, fix a salad and a porkchop and you have a tasty meal.

 

Baking soda it is, will add it shortly. Thanks to all.

 

Did you soke them overnite in water before cooking?

 

Sure did...more like 24 hours. Added the baking soda, it helped very little. the beans ended up in the weekly trash collection. The date on the package has expired.

 

If you have a gravel driveway, you coulda...

 

Squirrels gotta eat, too. They'll get the other two lb. unopened package that is out of date!