Beans are the picture of convenience, readily available in canned or dried varieties, but I tend to lean to toward the dried variety, so that I can control the salt in my food and avoid the dreaded BPA in canned food. The flavor of cooked dried beans always seems fresher than their canned counterparts, and their texture tends to be more pleasing to the palate. In a few easy steps, you can prepare dried beans easily, and they tend to be cheaper than the canned variety.