I am fond of making a cassoulet in winter so, when I was looking through a new-to-me Spanish cookbook, I looked at the recipe for fabada, which is the Spanish equivalent. The bean in fabada is the fabes bean, so I checked my usual expensive bean supplier, Rancho Gordo. No joy.
I engaged a search engine to see where I might source a supply and the first entry that wasn't some other f'ing beaan entirely (why, do they pay to do this?) was on Amazon. One kilo of dried beans, $22.64.
Amazon apparently has their own AI equivalent to SIRI, or whatever, so buyers can ask really stupid questions and get answers. Ask Rufus, they call it.
First question in the pre-populated FAQ was, and I quote, "Are they pre-soaked or do they need soaking?" If that isn't the dumbest question ever asked about a package of dried beans, I don't know what to say. Other than we've apparently raised generations of absolute morons in this country.
Well, Rufus responded (yes, I just had to click on the question to see the answer) by noting:
"I did not find any information about whether the beans need soaking or come pre-soaked. However, customers recommend rinsing and soaking the beans overnight before cooking them."
SO, we also have AI that is as stupid as the public. Well done, whoever created that.
Beans in question, to understand the issue:
