Kidney beans are a variety of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), a legume native to Central America and Mexico.

The common bean is an important food crop and major source of protein throughout the world.

Used in a variety of traditional dishes, kidney beans are usually eaten well cooked. Raw or improperly cooked kidney beans are toxic, but well-prepared beans can be a healthy component of a well-balanced diet.

They come in a variety of colors and patterns, including white, cream, black, red, purple, spotted, striped, and mottled.