Sort through the beans and remove any debris or damaged beans
Rinse the beans under cold water
Place the beans in a large bowl or pot
Add enough cold water to cover the beans by at least 2 to 3 inches
Leave the beans to soak at room temperature overnight, about 8 to 12 hours
Drain the soaking water in the morning
Rinse the beans again before cooking
Cook the beans with fresh water after soaking