Wait a minute, the best damn baked beans aren't baked? OK so maybe your right, they should be, who knows. If you need to bake them to call them baked beans then rather than simmering on the stove top put them in the oven at 300 for about an hour. Just don't forget to check them and stir accordingly. Also if you put the same pot you have been using in the oven, well be sure its oven save. Otherwise your gonna have a stinkin' mess.