Rinse and drain the dry chickpeas using a fine mesh sieve. Remove any debris, as needed.
Transfer the chickpeas to the Instant Pot and top with 4 cups cold water, or enough to cover the chickpeas by 1 inch with water. Season with salt, if using.
Pressure cook on high for 50 minutes, followed by a 15 minute natural release before moving the valve to the “venting” position and manually releasing any remaining pressure.
Drain the remaining aquafaba (cooking water) and either discard or reserve for baking.
How to Cook Soaked Chickpeas
Place the chickpeas in a very large bowl and soak the chickpeas for at least 8 hours, or overnight.
Drain the soaking water and rinse the chickpeas thoroughly. Remove any debris, as needed.
Transfer the chickpeas to the Instant Pot and top with 4 cups cold water, or enough to cover the chickpeas by 1 inch with water. Season with salt, if using.
Pressure cook on high for 15 minutes, followed by a 15 minute natural release before moving the valve to the “venting” position and manually releasing any remaining pressure.
Drain the remaining aquafaba (cooking water) and either discard or reserve for baking.
How to Freeze Chickpeas
Drain and rinse the chickpeas: Whether you've cooked your chickpeas from scratch or are freezing a leftover can of chickpeas, always start by draining the chickpeas from any cooking liquid and rinse them thoroughly until the foaminess subsides. I typically like to do this using a fine mesh sieve or a colander.
Transfer to a container: Transfer the chickpeas to freezer-safe containers such as freezer-safe plastic bags, airtight containers, or glass jars (my favorite option). I typically recommend freezing the chickpeas in the portion sizes you typically use at a time. For example, I like to freeze my beans and legumes in a 16 oz jar because this is similar to the size of a regular can of chickpeas. That way, if a recipe calls for 2 cans of chickpeas, I can go to the freezer and grab two jars and know I am defrosting the exact amount I need.
Label and freeze: Label the container with either a use-by date or the date they were frozen and place them in the freezer. You might be tempted to skip this step, but trust me when I say you will not remember when you froze them! And if you like to freeze beans on a regular basis, labeling them with dates will ensure you're rotating through your freezer stash properly and efficiently. This will reduce both food waste and confusion for you and your family members!