You don't have to soak your beans, but I recommend you do. Soaking your beans reduces the cooking time, but most importantly, soaking helps break down the oligosaccharides (a type of carbohydrate) in beans that our digestive system can’t handle. (It is the oligosaccharides that cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Beano helps with this.) This is why I love the slow cooker method for pinto beans. It's easy to soak them overnight and then throw them into the crockpot in the morning. They can cook all day on low and are ready for you when you get home from work.