Cooking pinto beans on the stove takes about four hours, and you have to soak them overnight. If you use the pressure cooker method, then the beans only take one hour. Cooking them in a pressure cooker doesn't require soaking and this will save you time. There are a variety of great recipes that you can make with pinto beans. Make them ahead of time and put them in the refrigerator to heat up later.Pinto beans are good to eat with cornbread or tortillas. They are a low-fat food choice if you are watching your diet. Pinto beans are also high in fiber and protein. This makes beans a healthy food choice for any meal. They also cost much less than other protein choices such as chicken or fish. Include beans in your meals at least twice a week for variety and cost-savings.There are many Mexican food recipes that use pinto beans. Add them to rice for a quick meal on busy days. Pinto beans are good as an addition to food dishes such as chili, enchiladas and burritos. MASH them up and fry them for a popular re-fried bean recipe. Adding beans to homemade burritos and enchiladas give them more flavor. You can find many recipe ideas for pinto beans online. Experiment with several dishes to discover new family favorites.To start cooking your beans, add one pound of beans to a food strainer. Hold the strainer over running water and check for small rocks and debris. Rinse the beans and add them to a six quart pressure cooker. You can add bacon drippings or ham bones to add flavor, but don't add salt until the beans are done. Salt will make the beans lose their jackets while cooking. Read the manufacture's directions for cooking beans, and add the recommended amount of water. Your beans will be tender in about one hour.Many people avoid eating pinto beans because of the long cooking time. If you use the pressure cooker method, you can include beans to your diet more often. Experiment with different recipes and discover the many ways to add beans to your meals.