First, rinse the pinto beans in a colander, removing any hard pebbles that you find. It’s rare, but sometimes they are actually hiding in there with the beans.
Put all of the ingredients into your Instant Pot and stir it up to combine. Put the lid on and move the nozzle to the Sealing position. Set to Manual, 50 minutes. After 50 minutes, let the Instant Pot slow release on its own for 20 minutes. Quick release the rest of the pressure yourself. Be careful to avoid steam burns!
Drain the liquid and reserve it in a bowl. Smash the beans with a potato masher. Not only will you be making great beans, you’ll also get a nice workout in smashing those beans! Add the bean liquid back in as needed to get the consistency to your liking. I like them creamy and a bit wet.
Adjust salt to taste. Add more seasonings if you’d like.