Can You Freeze Chickpeas? Easy Guide to Freeze Chickpeas at Home?

Ayub KhanandRehmat DietitianMarch 16, 2023Last Updated: April 12, 2023

8 minutes read

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In this article, you will know the answer to the query “Can You Freeze Chickpeas? Easy Guide to Freeze Chickpeas at Home?“.

Chickpeas can be used in a variety of ways.

You can use them as a star ingredient in anything from creamy hummus dips to crunchy snacks to the most filling and never-soggy soups, stews, or casseroles.

Also, they’re extremely inexpensive and high in nutrition, so you shouldn’t hesitate to buy them in bulk.

If you have a small pantry, you won’t need a lot of space. However, you will have enough freezer space.

Freezing chickpeas is easy. You can defrost them quickly and without causing any structural damage, so you can add them to a dish later on.

In this article, we will discuss the best ways to freeze chickpeas, how you can prepare them, and why they are so delicious.

What Exactly are Chickpeas?

For many millennia, chickpeas have been a staple food in Middle Eastern cuisine.

However, in recent years, they’ve made a name for themselves in every other part of the world.

The beans are also known as garbanzo beans, but they belong to the legume family.

Beans are more closely related to chickpeas than peas.

A chickpea’s name is derived from the French word ‘cliche,’ meaning thin or small, and refers to its size.

These two terms are often used interchangeably today.

Chickpeas are divided into two types: desi and Kabuli.

Kabuli is a more recently bred variation of Desi, which is considered the original variety.

Their flavors are very similar and they are both popular in their own right.

The one on the left is narrower than the one on the right.

The difference is in the size and, therefore, in the texture (Kabuli is slightly smoother than desi).

There are fewer and firmer desi chickpeas.

The Kabuli fruit, on the other hand, is larger, creamier, sweeter, and more tender.

Differences Between Canned Chickpeas and Dried Chickpeas

The main difference between dried and canned chickpeas is that canned chickpeas don’t have to be cooked beforehand.

Boiling beans are followed by canning them in water.

Dried ones, on the other hand, need to be soaked overnight before being cooked (in an open casserole or pot) for about two hours.

Chickpeas can have a softer and mushier texture.

They are also harder to peel (save yourself some time and dig clean through your fingernails).

In either case, however, the flavor is just as rich. You may be able to remove the skin quite easily if they’re canned.

All you have to do is give them a good rinse in cold water mixed with baking soda.

Rubbing the skin away will remove it. You need to soak the dried variety first.

When done under cold running water, soaking the chickpeas softens them and makes it easier to peel them off.

How to Cook Canned Chickpeas?

Simple chickpeas are cooked with canned white chickpeas (water in the can).

It just takes a few minutes to rinse them under cold running water after draining the liquid.

They can be used immediately. The cooking process is exactly the same as for dried chickpeas, except that they do not require overnight soaking.

There are two options available to you:

1) Use them in cold recipes, such as salads, spreads, etc.

If you overcook them, they will become mushy and inedible.

Having cooked and drained canned chickpeas, you should use them immediately after draining.

2) Put them into warm/hot dishes, such as soups or stews, so they won’t be overcooked.

It is possible to use canned chickpeas that have been previously cooked (cold method) and drained, or canned chickpeas that have already been heated (don’t need to be cooked).

Simply heat your canned chickpeas in a saucepan and simmer them for 2 minutes.

Be sure to use canned chickpeas that haven’t been overcooked in both cases.

In this case, you should discard them or cook them longer until they are edible again. If they turn a darker color than normal, they have been overcooked and will need to be discarded.

How to Freeze Uncooked Chickpeas?

Chickpeas can be frozen for an instant source of protein and legumes when you don’t have time or forgot to grab them from the store.

As the chickpeas are frozen, they will act as a preservative, preventing rot and allowing you to have chickpeas on hand whenever you need them.

Rinse uncooked chickpeas in cold water if you want to freeze them.

Allow them to dry as much as possible on a baking sheet.

Even after freezing, you can leave them overnight to prevent them from sticking together.

As soon as your chickpeas are fully dried, spread them out on a baking sheet in irregular clumps, as this will prevent the beans from sticking together once they’re frozen.

Place the sheet of beans back into the freezer after you have laid them out and wait for about 1 hour for them all to be frozen uniformly.

All beans should be placed in a freezer bag after they have been steamed.

Be careful not to use too much space in the bag, as you don’t want your chickpeas to expand during freezing.

You can take out chickpeas whenever you want and follow your favorite recipe.

Keeping them frozen for 2-3 months should keep them good for a long time.

How to Freeze Cooked Chickpeas?

In order to prevent moisture loss and freezer burn, it is best to cook chickpeas before freezing them.

Simply boil water in a large pot to cook them.

You can add other seasonings if you want, including washed chickpeas and salt and pepper to taste.

Once the mixture comes to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Leave the soup to stand for 1 hour to absorb all the flavor before draining well in a colander.

Ensure that the beans are as dry as possible, otherwise, you might have soggy beans.

As soon as you have completely dried your chickpeas, you can freeze them.

Instead of freezing them all together, you want to separate the beans into individual clumps.

Cooked beans can be frozen by spreading them out on a baking sheet.

Place the frozen beans into a freezer bag and seal it.

You should keep your beans in the freezer for no longer than three months for best results.

Even though they have very little moisture, to begin with, they can still dry out over time.

In your refrigerator, you can keep chickpeas for about three days if you’re just preparing them for immediate use.

Should You Freeze Canned Chickpeas?

Though your homemade fresh chickpeas are far superior to their canned counterparts in terms of taste and texture, we can’t help but appreciate the convenience of opening up a can.

Freezing chickpeas is a great way to ensure you have your favorite legume on hand at all times and to prevent them from spoiling.

In light of that, should you freeze a can of chickpeas?

Your freezer can explode when you freeze canned chickpeas.

When you open your canned chickpeas, use a ziplock bag to squeeze out all the air and freeze.

How to Thaw Frozen Chickpeas?

To maintain freshness and flavor, it is best to thaw frozen chickpeas overnight in the refrigerator.

Place them in a large bowl and cover them completely with cool water if you don’t have room in the fridge.

Keep the water changed every 20 minutes or so to prevent freezer burn.

Taste a chickpea after it has thawed to ensure quality before cooking with it, as you may find that the texture isn’t quite right.

If this is the case, you can always reheat them by boiling, and adding a little salt and pepper to taste.

While leaving them nice and soft, this will help restore some of their lost flavor and moisture.

You should use your microwave if you need to thaw your chickpeas quickly.

Put a few of them on a plate and microwave them for 30 seconds.

Every 10 seconds, take them off and move them around to prevent overheating.

How to Use Defrosted Chickpeas?

How to use defrosted chickpeas is one of the most common questions people ask.

You may think the answer is obvious, but it’s not as straightforward as you think.

Defrosted chickpeas should not be eaten straight from the freezer, or your cooking experience will be ruined.

For them to regain their full, delicious flavor, a quick rehydration stage is required.

Besides softening them up again, this makes them excellent for cooking.

Your frozen chickpeas may not be as good after thawing if they have been frozen for more than a few months.

Alternatively, you can cook them according to the instructions above and then switch them over to the recipe of your choice.

Salads, guacamole, hummus, and falafel are all excellent ways to use defrosted chickpeas.

Your dish will have a nice texture with them since they blend so well with other ingredients.

You can also choose to leave them as they are and add them to stews or salads.

Cooking chickpeas in liquid is another great idea.

When making soups such as vegetable soup, bulgur wheat with herbs, and lentil stew, this will allow them to maintain their shape without overpowering the rest of your dish.

How to Tell if Chickpeas are Bad?

When you open a can of chickpeas and taste them, only to find they have gone bad, there is nothing worse than it.

If you do this, the flavor of your food will be ruined no matter what you do, so it’s extremely important that you can tell whether your beans are still good.

In order to determine if this is the case, you need to look for these three signs.

It is true that you cannot judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to appearances, looks are everything.

If your canned chickpeas look dull and flaky, they have been exposed to light for too long before being canned.

You should throw them out immediately after doing this since the taste will also become bitter and unpleasant.

If the chickpeas you open have a strong sour smell, throw them out immediately.

Your food will begin to taste different because they are decomposing.

In terms of texture, bad chickpeas can be distinguished by their lack of texture.

It is likely that you have been sitting on your chickpeas for a long time if they are hard and dry.

Ideally, they should feel creamy like the ones you buy at the store.

Conclusion

As a result, chickpeas are an excellent source of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates.

Many health benefits are associated with their high potassium, magnesium, folate, and iron levels.

Try adding chickpeas to your diet as a snack or in one of your favorite recipes if you want to eat healthier.

Chickpeas can be preserved by freezing, which ensures their availability whenever you need them.