PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method for softening beans to softness with which person having difficulty in chewing can eat easily while maintaining a shape, and further maintaining softened quality even when stored for long time at an ordinary temperature, and having high productivity by a simple manufacturing method.SOLUTION: In at least one process of water impregnation process or a water boiling process for rehydrating beans which is ecdysis treated, water impregnation treatment and/or a water boiling treatment is conducted by a solution containing gluconic acid, then the beans obtained after the water boiling process and an acidic solution containing alkali metal salt of citric acid and gluconic acid are combined and sealed in a pressure resistant heat resistant container, then a retort heating treatment is conducted.SELECTED DRAWING: None【課題】豆類が、形状を維持しつつ、高齢者などの咀嚼困難者が容易に食べることができる軟らかさに軟化され、さらに常温で長期間保存した場合にも軟化された品質が維持され、且つかつ簡易な製造方法により高い生産性を有する製造方法を提供する。【解決手段】脱皮処理した豆類を、水戻しする水浸漬工程または水煮工程の少なくともいずれかの工程において、グルコン酸を含む水溶液で水浸漬処理および／または水煮処理した後に、前記水煮工程後に得られた豆類と、クエン酸のアルカリ金属塩とグルコン酸を含む酸性溶液とを合わせて耐圧耐熱容器に密封した後、レトルト加熱処理を行う。【選択図】なし
