Can You Freeze Chickpeas? – How to Cook and Freeze Chickpeas? – How Long Are Chickpeas Good For In The Fridge?

by

Can You Freeze Chickpeas Out of a Can?: Chickpeas are a great source of protein in a vegetarian diet. They are incredibly versatile and can be added to creamy hummus dips or to roasted crunchy snacks, or they can be used as never-soggy ingredients in soups and stews.

Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas are a member of the legume family. Chickpeas are inexpensive and multipurpose, so who wouldn’t want to buy them in bulk? But then how do you store extra chickpeas—can you freeze canned chick peas/can you freeze cooked chickpeas? Let’s find out.

Can You Freeze Chickpeas

Can You Freeze Chickpeas? | Can You Freeze Canned Garbanzo Beans?

Yes, chickpeas can be frozen for up to 12 months. You can freeze chickpeas on your own or as part of a dish such as a chickpea stew, chickpea curry, or even hummus. Chickpeas are versatile legumes that can be used to increase protein in a variety of recipes or on their own and then stored in the freezer for later use.

Chickpeas are healthy; you can prepare a large batch of chickpeas on the stove, and then freezing them can help you save time and stick to your healthy eating goals. If you cook up a recipe with chickpeas or prepare chickpeas on their own, they can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three days. However, frozen chickpeas allow you to create convenient, pre-cooked meals that can be stored for when you need them.

How To Freeze Chickpeas?

Chickpeas can be frozen easily, so you don’t need to worry too much about doing lots of prep work beforehand. Just follow these few easy steps, and your chickpeas will freeze well:

  • Drain the chickpeas: First of all, you need to drain the chickpeas; it doesn’t matter whether they were canned and already prepared or dried, and you have been preparing them yourself.
  • Let them dry: Lay the drained chickpeas out on a clean towel so they get dried by natural air. You need to wait till they get properly dried.
  • Bag up: Once the chickpeas are dry, put them into an airtight freezer-safe container. A freezer bag that you can seal tightly may also work. You can divide a lot of chickpeas into smaller portions and then freeze them in multiple containers if you prefer. This will make it easier to defrost a single portion of the chickpeas when you need them.
  • Freeze it: Label the container with the date and contents and place it in the freezer.

How To Freeze Cooked Chickpeas?

If you’d prefer to get the cooking out of the way before freezing the chickpeas, you can either drain them of their cooking liquid before freezing or you can freeze them in their cooking liquid. It depends on whether you want to use the cooking liquid in your future recipe or not. If not, we recommend still keeping the cooking liquid; you can even freeze it separately.

Either way, when planning to freeze, take the chickpeas off the heat 15 minutes early so that they won’t be overcooked when you’re ready to defrost and reheat them at a later date. Then, if your other ingredients are safe for freezing, simply transfer your cooled meal to a freezer-safe Tupperware container and place it in your freezer.

We always recommend dating your freezer meals and eating them within 3 months if you want to preserve freshness and texture. Interestingly, you can also freeze mashed or pureed chickpeas. In cases where you’re freezing a spread or dip, make sure there’s an inch of headspace in your container to allow for expansion as it freezes.

Freezing Canned Chickpeas | How To Freeze Canned Chickpeas?

The most important thing to note if you’ve purchased a can of chickpeas is that you should never put canned goods in the freezer. Canned products are pressurized, and the liquid inside will expand as it freezes.

With nowhere to go, the most probable outcome is that it cracks the can or glass canning jar. In the worst-case scenario, you may have a minor explosion to clean up in your freezer. In this case, open your canned chickpeas, transfer them to a freezer-safe Ziploc bag, remove all the air, and freeze.

Read More:

How Long Can You Freeze Chickpeas? | How Long Do Chickpeas Last In The Fridge?

Chickpeas can stay stored in the freezer for a long time—about 12 months. However, for the best results and best flavor, you should consume them within six months. The longer you store it, the higher the chances are that you will notice some deterioration in flavor and texture.

The dried version of chickpeas should be stored in a tightly closed container at cool room temperature. You can use them within 6 months. The leftover cooked chickpeas will be kept for 3-4 days in the refrigerator if stored in a tightly closed container.

Chickpeas Shelf Life
In the refrigerator 3 to 4 days
In the freezer 6 to 12 months

How Do You Defrost Chickpeas?

Thawing chickpeas doesn’t involve much hassle. You can take the required quantity of chickpeas out of the freezer and put them in a bowl. First, defrost overnight in the fridge, and then move them to the kitchen side to slowly come up to room temperature before cooking. Once the chickpeas are thawed, they look the same as before freezing, and you can cook with them in the same way.

Can You Refreeze Chickpeas?

No, it’s not recommended to refreeze chickpeas once you have thawed them out. It’s rather advised to use the frozen chickpeas within 24 hours of defrosting them because, after this, they can start to deteriorate.

In essence, you shouldn’t refreeze thawed-out chickpeas as an ingredient or food. However, you can add them to your cooking and then freeze the leftovers without causing problems.

Do Chickpeas Freeze Well?

Chickpeas are fantastic; they even freeze really well. Either canned or dried, chickpeas can be stored for ages, and even when they have been opened and soaked, you can freeze them, and they last for a long time that way too! You won’t even notice much difference in taste or texture if you cook the chickpeas after thawing them out.

For best quality, use the frozen chickpeas within six months. After this, there may be some deterioration in flavor, but you can keep them frozen for a few months longer if necessary.

For more interesting articles on different grains like Dahl refer to our guide on Can You Freeze Dahl and get to know the freezing process in detail.

How To Use Defrosted Chickpeas? | How To Defrost Chickpeas?

After defrosting, you may ask how to use defrosted chickpeas. An important thing to note is that you definitely should not eat defrosted chickpeas straight from the freezer, or your cooking experience will be ruined for sure.

Defrosted chickpeas need to go through a quick rehydration stage to regain their full, delicious flavor. This process will soften the chickpeas up again and make them great for cooking with. If your chickpeas have been frozen for too long, they may not be as good after thawing as you might expect.

One of the best ways to use defrosted chickpeas is by adding them to salads, guacamole, hummus, and falafel. They will blend perfectly with other ingredients in these dishes and will add some texture to your dish. Alternatively, you can also choose to keep them as they are and add them to a stew or salad.

FAQs On Freezing Cooked Chickpeas | Can you freeze tinned chickpeas?

1. Can You Freeze Chickpeas From a Tin?

Yes, if you’ve opened a tin of chickpeas but only used half, you can surely freeze the leftovers. For this, you can use the same method as above. We would advise separating them from their liquid before freezing.

2. Can You Freeze Chickpeas in a Curry?

Yes, whether they’re in curry, stew, or soup, chickpeas can be frozen in various dishes. The best method is to cool the curry, portion it out into bags, seal it, and freeze it.

3. How can you tell if chickpeas have gone bad?

The best way to tell if chickpeas are bad or spoiled is to smell and look at the dried chickpeas: if the chickpeas develop an off odor, flavor, or appearance, or if mold or insects appear, they should be discarded.

4. Can You Freeze Roasted Chickpeas?

Yes, roasted chickpeas can be frozen safely, but they will lose some of their texture when defrosted. You will be better off freezing uncooked chickpeas and then you can roast them fresh when you fancy them as a quick and healthy snack.

5. Are frozen chickpeas better than canned ones?

On their own, frozen chickpeas have a slightly grainy texture and lack the more buttery mouthfeel of canned chickpeas, but there isn’t much difference between the two.

6. Can you freeze canned chickpeas after opening?

Can canned chickpeas be frozen? Yes, you can freeze canned chickpeas for upto three months after opening too.

7. How long do cooked chickpeas last in the fridge?

Cooked chickpeas can last in the fridge for 3-4 days without water. In the freezer, it can last for a month.

Wrapping Up – Can I freeze cooked chickpeas?

Chickpeas are well known for their high levels of potassium, magnesium, folate, and iron, all of which can promote health in many ways. Hence, having some chickpeas stored in your freezer provides a good diet option. They are healthy and come with a long shelf life.

Follow the guidelines provided above on whether can chickpeas be frozen and store the chickpeas in the best possible manner. Keep following our website for the best food storage tips and articles like Can You Freeze Rice Pudding and others.

Leave a Comment