Are Canned Chickpeas Cooked? The Amazing Answer You Need To Know

After seeing some canned chickpeas in the supermarkets, it got me thinking, “Are canned chickpeas cooked or not?”

Finding an answer to this question meant a lot to me because I simply don’t have the time to prepare dried chickpeas for several hours. Neither, could I have removed chickpeas from my diet because they are wonderful legumes that offer a lot of nutrients.

I tried asking my friends about it, but no one really seemed to have a definitive answer, and so I donned my investigative hat, so to speak, and was amazed by the deluge of information I have discovered. If you have the same query, check what I have discovered.

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Yes, canned chickpeas or garbanzo beans are already cooked.

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In fact, they serve as a convenient alternative to dried chickpeas. While you spend hours soaking and simmering the dried chickpeas before you can use them, canned chickpeas can be served straight from the can.

However, dried chickpeas could offer a better flavor than canned chickpeas. In a taste test conducted by Tasting Table, dried chickpeas that are tenderized in water for more than two hours offered the best flavor, with a subtle nutty taste. 

On the other hand, canned chickpeas have that mushy and metallic taste. In terms of nutrients, canned chickpeas often have a similar amount of nutrients as dried chickpeas.

However, the canned variety may contain a higher sodium content, but you can rinse them to freshen up the flavor. As long as you purchase a high-quality kind, you can effortlessly enjoy the wonders of beans even when you’re short on time.

Preparing Canned Chickpeas for Cooking

1. Select your canned garbanzos

It is recommended to choose the organic kinds of beans that are certified “BPA free” to prevent your food from getting contaminated with bisphenol A (BPA). This chemical is often used in cans. Exposure to this chemical might cause high blood pressure and affect the brain of children.

Westbrae and Organic are some of the brands that offer organic and low sodium canned garbanzo beans. After selecting your canned garbanzos, just open it with a can opener.

2. Drain and rinse

Get a strainer and put the chickpeas to drain the excess liquid from the can. Drain them over the sink. Rinse the garbanzos under a strong running water from the faucet.

You can watch this video if you like to have a reference on how to do this properly.

3. Add straight into the dishes

After rinsing, you can add the chickpeas straight into the dishes you want, like soups, stews or salads. Alternatively, you can try to simmer the rinsed beans in some flavorful stock to enhance their taste and plump them up.

Using Canned Chickpeas

Chickpeas are a favorite of many because of its versatility. You can use it in various dishes like salads, stews, and soups.

In Italy, they ground these beans into flour-like consistency to create socca, a crepe-like pancake dish.

In Indian cuisine, chickpeas are grounded to create fried bread and pastries. In most Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines, chickpeas are pureed together with garlic, lemon, and sesame seed paste to create a food dip known as hummus.

You can also transform the rinsed and fully dried canned garbanzos into fried chickpeas. First, season the chickpeas with salt, pepper, curry powder, and cumin. Then, deep fry under hot cooking oil. You may watch this video for better reference.

Mixing chickpeas with other healthy ingredients can also make their taste more appealing. For instance, you can sauté chickpeas with mushrooms to create your new toast topper.

You can replace your kale salad with chickpea-Brussels sprouts salad. Just add some Parmesan and walnuts, then you can serve it right away. You may find some other healthy recipes here.

Storing Canned Chickpeas

If you have not consumed all the canned chickpeas in one setting, do not store them in the opened metal can. Instead, transfer the leftover canned chickpeas in a glass or plastic container, then refrigerate them.

You may freeze the leftover canned chickpeas in heavy-duty freezer bags or airtight containers.

Another way of storing unconsumed canned beans is to toss some olive oil into the rinsed beans before storing them in an airtight container. The olive oil will prevent the beans from sticking together. If you want to store the beans for a longer time, you may freeze them with water.

Give it a Try

Using canned chickpeas is a great solution if you’re in a pinch. You save the time and effort in soaking dried peas for several hours. You can also use them in various dishes, like salads, stews, and fried dishes.

If you’re considering in buying some organic and low-sodium canned chickpeas, try Eden and Westbrae.