Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans are available in grocery stores in cans or dried ones. The dried chickpeas can be cooked in a pressure cooker after soaking them or by without soaking.
Whether you want to store leftover canned chickpeas, preserve cooked chickpeas, you will be happy to know that they can be frozen for long. When chickpeas are on sale, buying them in bulk is a great way to save time and money.
By following the below tips you can always have a supply of these delicious and versatile beans ready to make any recipe.
Preparation
Canned chickpeas: discard the liquid from the canned chickpeas and transfer them to a ziplock bag or a freezer safe container. This is a great way to store any leftover chickpeas and you do not plan to use them in the next few days after opening.
Dried chickpeas: rinse the dried chickpeas with water and then soak it in enough water for at least 8 hours. Discard the water and then pressure cook chickpeas in the Instant Pot for about 18 minutes and let the pressure release naturally. Discard the water and then let the chickpeas cool down completely.
Dried chickpeas
Rinse and soak chickpeas for 8-10 hours.
How to freeze cooked chickpeas?
- Cool down: discard any water and let the chickpeas cool down completely.
- Portion: measure or weigh the chickpeas about 15 oz or 2 ½ cup. This would allow you to use them when a recipe calls for a can of chickpeas.
- Package: pack them in airtight freezer safe containers or ziplock bags. Zip-lock bags are perfect for portion control, while airtight containers work best for larger batches
- Label: label the containers or Ziplock bags with date, content, and quantity for easy planning.
Pressure cook chickpeas and discard water.
Portion and measure chickpeas, label the containers and ziplock bags with name, date, and size.
Storage choices
- Freezer-Safe Bags: Ziplock bags are affordable option to freeze cooked chickpeas, allowing for easy storage and space-saving flexibility.
- Airtight Containers: Rubbermaid, Tupperware, Snapware and other airtight containers are great for storing larger quantities.
- Mason Jars: Glass jars are a durable and eco-friendly option to freeze cooked chickpeas. They are available in various sizes allowing you to portion them as needed.
How to defrost frozen chickpeas?
- Overnight in the fridge: place the airtight container or ziplock bag in the fridge overnight.
- Quick thaw: submerge the sealed bag or container in warm water for about 10 minutes.
- Microwave defrost: use the defrost setting on the microwave.
How to use frozen chickpeas
- Soup: defrosted chickpeas are perfect for thickening and adding protein to soups and stews.
- Hummus: a fresh batch of hummus with thawed chickpeas is easy to make in your food processor.
- Salads: add them to salads for a satisfying punch of protein and fiber.
- Falafel: falafel fritters are a delicious appetizer to make with thawed and mashed chickpeas.
- Curry: chana masala is a popular curry made with chickpeas. make the gravy and then add the defrosted chickpeas and let them simmer for about 5 minutes and a delicious curry will be ready.
Duration
Cooked chickpeas can be frozen for upto 6 months. Upon freezing for longer duration you will see some ice crystals. Once the chickpeas are defrosted, the liquid can be strained and discarded.
More freezing ideas
Looking for other ideas like this? Try these:
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