How To Store Cooked Chickpeas

Store Cooked Chickpeas

Cooking chickpeas in advance then storing them for later use, is a great way of saving time. This is mainly because chickpeas take a lot of time to cook through. Therefore, if you are someone who always has a busy schedule then preparing them in advance is the best option. However, it is worth noting that cooked chickpeas need to be stored in a certain way if you want to extend their shelf life. Below are a few tips on how to store cooked chickpeas. Carefully follow them for the best results

Contents

Store cooked chickpeas in the fridge

NB: this method only stores cooked chickpeas for about 3 to 5 days. Therefore only use this method to store leftover cooked chickpeas, if you are certain that you will consume them in a short space of time.

Step 1

In order to store leftover cooked chickpeas in the fridge start by letting them cool down at room temperature. This is because if you store them while hot they will cause the temperature of the fridge to change. Also separate the chickpeas from their cooking water.

Step 2

The next step is to take the cooked chickpeas and place them in an air tight container or place them in a freezer bag. Close the freezer bag or the container then place it in the fridge.  The cooked chickpeas can last for about 5 days in the fridge so make sure you use them within that time frame.

Store cooked chickpeas in the freezer

NB: this is the best method for storing cooked chickpeas. This is because it really extends the shelf life of the cooked chickpeas for up to 2 to 3 months.

Step 1

When storing leftover cooked chickpeas in the freezer the first step is to separate the cooked chickpeas from their cooking water. The next thing is to let the chickpeas cool down at room temperature. This is mainly because you cannot store them while warm. When stored while they are warm, they will cause the temperature of the freezer to change. This will then affect the shelf life of other foods in the freezer.

Step 2

When the cooked chickpeas have cooled down, divide them into portions. This will help you in the long run because, instead of defrosting the whole batch, you will simply defrost 1 portion which you need to eat at that particular point.

Step 3

After dividing the cooked chickpeas place them into freezer bags or air tight containers. Label the containers with the date in which you are placing them in the freezer. This will help you to keep track of when they are likely to expire. Cooked chickpeas that are stored in the freezer can last for about 3 months.

How to store cooked chickpea water

Store cooked chickpea water in the fridge

Although you remove the cooking water from the chickpeas when storing them, it doesn’t mean you should throw it away. You can store cooked chickpea water in the fridge. It can be used to a lot of dishes. One of the most interesting things that you can do with chickpea liquid is to make aquafaba. Which is a vegan substitute for eggs or egg whites. To store chickpea liquid in the fridge you need to start by letting it cool down completely. When it has cooled down place it in an airtight container and store in the fridge, it can last for about 2 weeks.

Store cooked chickpea water in the freezer

This is also another method that you can use to store cooked chickpea water. In order to do this you have to make sure that the chickpea liquid has cooled down. This is because if you store it while it’s hot it may cause the temperature of the freezer to change, which is something you do not want. To store the chickpeas in the freezer simply place them in an airtight container or in an ice cube tray. Then place them in the freezer. Each time you want to use the cooked chickpea water you can always defrost it.

How to defrost cooked chickpeas

Frozen cooked chickpeas need to be defrosted first before they can be used. In order to do this simply take the cooked chickpeas out of the freezer and place them in the fridge. Leave them to thaw in the fridge for a few hours before using them. You can also thaw frozen cooked chickpeas in the microwave. It will only take you a minute or two to defrost the cooked chickpeas.

Tips for cooking chickpeas

NB: chickpeas take a long time to cook. Here are a few tips that will help you to cook your chickpeas faster.

Soak the chickpeas

Long method

One of the tips for cooking chickpeas is that they need to be soaked before you can cook them. This will help them to become soft and they will cook much faster. In order to soak the chickpeas you have to place them in a big pot. Add water into the pot such that it covers all the chickpeas. You can soak the chickpeas overnight. The chickpeas will start to expand such that 1 kg may yield 2 kg of chickpeas. Therefore, you need to ensure that you place a lot of water and also make sure you are using a large pot. When the chickpeas have passed the soaking stage you can drain the water and cook them with a new batch of water for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Short method

You can also soak the chickpeas for a shorter period of time. In order to do this simply place the chickpeas in water and add an extra 2 or 3 cups of water to the pot. Place the pot on the stove and bring the chickpeas to a boil for about 5 minutes. Remove them from the stove and let them soak for 1 to 1 ½ hours. After that you can drain the water and cook the chickpeas using fresh water for about 30 to 40 minutes.

Conclusion

Cooked chickpeas can be stored in either the fridge or the freezer. However, the freezer is the best method to use since it really extends the shelf life of cooked chickpeas.

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