Most beans are available either canned or dried. Virtually every type of dried bean there is, can be found in a can. Canned beans are much faster and easier to use. However, dried beans are much less expensive.

Determining which type of bean is better might come down to which is more important to you; convenience or cost? If you need to quickly throw something together, canned beans work great. But if you are looking to stretch your dollar a little further, then dried beans are best.

While preparing dried beans takes time with soaking, cooking and seasoning, you can get much more for your money with them.

Common Types of Beans

There are hundreds of varieties of beans available. Some of the common types of beans include:

• Kidney Beans - These beans are shaped like kidneys and come either as regular kidney beans (which are maroon colored) or in light red and dark red kidney bean varieties. They are often used in chili, or in Southern cuisine and rice dishes.
• Pinto Beans - Pinto beans are pinkish but take a brownish hue when cooked. They are a staple of Mexican dishes. Pinto beans are used to make refried beans which can be a side dish or used in meals like tacos and burritos.
• Roman Beans (Cranberry) - This type of bean is spotted tan and red and is oval in shape. It is used in many Italian dishes.
• Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas) - These beans are beige with an almost circular shape. They are often used in Middle Eastern cuisine and are the most popular basis for hummus.
• Black-eyed Beans (Black-eyed Peas) - These white beans have black dots and are used in many Southern dishes.
• Navy Beans - Unlike the name, they are actually small white oval-shaped beans used to flavor salads and soups.
• Lima Beans - These plump, slightly curved beans are pale in color and come in small or slightly larger sizes. They are used in casseroles and soups.