They cook quickly, usually in about half an hour, though this year's crop needs 40 minutes, and need no presoaking.

There are three other tanks which are used for the presoaking and washing of the detectors.

Unlike most pulses, lentils need no presoaking - simmer gently for 20 minutes until tender, add salt about five minutes before the end of cooking.

NOTE: Dried tomatoes can be found in many grocery stores and can be added to the recipe as directed without presoaking.

A microwave oven is also great for preparing Indian staples like Basmati rice; it takes one quarter of the conventional time, and the rice requires no presoaking.

His baked bean recipe comes with two charts, one showing how the beans turn out when subjected to eight different cooking methods, another showing what happens when nine different kinds of beans are cooked with or without a presoaking.