Pinto beans have an earthy flavor and provide you with protein, fiber and the B vitamin, folate. Despite these positive attributes, pinto beans – like other beans – can have unpleasant gas-causing side effects. Proper soaking and cooking methods can help reduce these effects. Although little science supports the strategy, some cooks swear that adding a bit of mineral or castor oil to beans while they are cooking keeps their gas-causing nature at bay.
