The general term bean encompasses several plants and usually refers to the legume, a large plant seed found within long pods from the plant family Fabaceae. Soybeans, peas, lentils, and kidney beans are examples of legumes. When the seeds are dried, they are referred to as pulse. Many beans are only sold in dry form, while some, such as the pea, come both dried and fresh.

Beans are an excellent choice for low-fat protein, with more than twice the amount of protein as grain. Beans are available in dried or canned form. Dried beans take longer to cook, and must first undergo a long soaking to tenderize them. Canned beans are readily available, which makes it easy to add beans into your everyday diet.

Common beans available in most markets include adzuki, broad bean, cannellini, chickpeas, fava, kidney, lentil, lima, mung, navy, pea, pinto, runner, soy, and white.