Black Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), or turtle beans, are small, oval, jet-black seeds (0.4–0.6 inches long) with a shiny coat and dense, creamy flesh. Their mild, sweet-earthy taste and velvety texture shine in Latin American dishes—think Cuban black bean soup or Mexican frijoles.

When it comes to cooking with beans, home cooks and chefs have a lot of options. You can choose dry or canned beans, and you can choose from among tens of types of beans. The following chart describes ten of the most common varieties of beans available in both dry and canned form in U.S. supermarkets.

The right Beans for you When it comes to cooking with beans, home cooks and chefs have a lot of options. You can choose dry or canned beans, and you can choose from among tens of types of beans. The following chart describes ten of the most common varieties of beans available in both dry and canned form in U.S. supermarkets.

Beans, beans, they’re good for your heart—as the famous schoolyard chant goes. But they also boast a not insignificant number of other benefits as well. "All beans are rich in protein and fiber," says Marissa (Meshulam) Karp, registered dietitian and founder of MPM Nutrition.

Dry edible beans, such as pinto, navy, kidney, pink and black beans, are part of the legume family. A legume plant produces seeds in a pod; dry beans are the mature seeds within these pods. Other members of the legume family include lentils, peas, chickpeas, peanuts and soybeans [4].