A process for manufacturing dehydrated precooked flaked pinto beans begins
with cleaning a quantity of beans. The cleaned beans are then pressure
cooked. Following cooking, the beans are deposited on a perforated
conveyor for transportation through a first dehydrator which reduces the
moisture content of the beans to about 20%. The cooked dehydrated pinto
beans are then directed through a roller mill to convert the beans into
flakes. Alternative to being dehydrated in a first dehydrator before
being converted into flakes, the beans may be separated on a water
separating conveyor and not undergo any dehydration. The cooked
dehydrated bean flakes are then transported through a dehydrator which
reduces the moisture content thereof to less than about 10%.