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Food

Pinto Beans

What is pinto beans?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Phaseolus vulgaris[2]
Type Common bean[2]
Appearance Mottled or spotted[1]
Use Grown for food and used in cooking[1]
Spanish term frijoles pintos[2]

Pinto beans are a type of common bean (*Phaseolus vulgaris*) with a mottled or spotted appearance, grown for food and commonly used in cooking.

Context

Pinto beans are a type of common bean (*Phaseolus vulgaris*) that are mottled or spotted, grown for food and commonly used in cooking [1]. They are also known by the Spanish term *frijoles pintos* [2]. These beans are often dried and are a staple in southwestern U.S. cuisine [3]. They are sometimes confused with kidney beans, but they are distinct varieties [1].

Documented claims

  • Pinto beans are a variety of the common bean (*Phaseolus vulgaris*). [2]
  • They are typically dried and are associated with the southwestern United States. [3]

Related

  • Navy BeansNavy beans are a type of bean similar to pinto beans, often used in similar dishes.
  • Red Kidney BeansRed kidney beans are another common bean variety that readers might want to compare.

Questions and answers

What is another name for pinto beans?

In Spanish, pinto beans are called *frijoles pintos* [2].

Are pinto beans a type of kidney bean?

No, pinto beans are a variety of common bean, not kidney beans, though they are sometimes confused with them [1].

What do pinto beans look like?

Pinto beans have a mottled or spotted appearance, with small brown marks on them [1].

Sources

  1. PINTO BEAN Definition & Meaning — merriam-webster.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. PINTO BEAN | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Pinto Bean Definition — yourdictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Food