how can I fix beans that are too watery?

Just keep cooking them on sauté mode with the lid off to evaporate any excess liquid. You can also mash the beans more thoroughly to release starches that will naturally thicken the mixture. Or, add a tablespoon of masa harina or cornmeal to absorb moisture and thicken things up quickly. Remember, beans thicken quite a bit as they cool, so what seems too thin when hot might be absolutely perfect at room temperature. Give them about 10 minutes before you decide you need to thicken them further.

What to do for refried beans that are too thick

Stir in some reserved cooking liquid a tablespoon at a time until you get your desired consistency. Warm chicken broth also works great to thin beans while adding flavor.

How to fix beans with a bland flavor

Salt makes the biggest difference in fixing bland beans! Add salt in small increments, stirring and tasting between additions. Beans can absorb a surprising amount of salt. A squeeze of lime juice will also brighten flavors and make other seasonings more prominent. You can also add another pinch of cumin or chili powder to boost those spice flavors. And a little extra bacon fat stirred in at the end adds wonderful savory depth.

Smoky Instant Pot Refried Beans with Bacon Fat

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Pinto beans, bacon fat, and an Instant Pot create restaurant-quality refried beans for pennies per serving for this pure comfort food. Homemade is the way to go for beans that are warm, creamy, savory and absolutely delicious!

Author: beneficialbento
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 42 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 42 minutes
Yield: 6 -8 servings, 1 cup each 1x
Category: Dinner, side
Method: instant pot
Cuisine: Mexican
Diet: Gluten-Free

Ingredients

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2 Tbsp. bacon fat
2 Tbsp. minced shallot
2 large cloves garlic (or 2 Tbsp.), minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 pound dried pinto beans
6 cups chicken broth (or water)
Add after cooking:
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 Tbsp. additional bacon fat , optional (but delicious)

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Instructions

Rinse beans, add to a large pot. Cover with water, bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover with a lid and let sit for about an hour.
Press the Sauté button on the Instant pot. Add oil, shallot, and garlic. Cook and stir until softened.
Add the cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika and cook and stir for another minute. Turn off.
Drain the water from the beans. Add beans to the pot, along with 6 cups of water or chicken broth. Add the lid, making sure the pressure valve is in the “Sealing” position.
Press the bean/chili button and set the time for 42 minutes. You can also use the manual button for this.
After it's done, turn the instant pot off. Use a quick release, or just let the pressure come down on its own. Remove the lid, and lift out the stainless steel cooking pot (careful, it might be hot).
Drain the beans, reserving the cooking liquid. This is easy if you drain the beans into a colander over a large bowl.
Put the beans back into the pot. Add the salt, bacon grease, and ¾ to 1 cup of cooking liquid. Using an immersion blender or just a potato masher, mash the beans until they are the way you like them. You may need to add more of the cooking liquid to get the right consistency, about ¼ cup at a time.
You can keep the beans warm in the instant pot until you need to serve them. Add the lid and choose the Keep Warm setting. Stir in extra cooking liquid if needed if the beans get too thick.

Equipment

Instant Pot

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potato masher

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immersion blender

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Find it online: https://www.beneficial-bento.com/2026/06/smoky-instant-pot-refried-beans-with-bacon-fat.html