How Long to Boil Chickpeas

Also known as garbanzo beans, chickpeas have seemingly found their way into multiple dishes. The star in a chickpea salad or the backbone ingredient in a dip, chickpeas are one ingredient you want to master, and boiling them is foundational to how well you cook them.

While canned chickpeas are ready to be used just as they are, dried chickpeas will need to be boiled (sometimes, they’ll also need to be soaked).

If you’re trying to determine how long to boil chickpeas, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s all you need to know when boiling chickpeas.

How Long to Boil Chickpeas

Boiling chickpeas can take anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on how long the chickpeas have been dried and stored. Your boiling time will also depend on how tender you prefer your chickpeas. Additionally, pre-soaking chickpeas will greatly reduce the total boiling time.

Here’s a table that shows how long you should boil chickpeas, based on your method of preparation and if you soaked them beforehand.

Boiling Method	Boiling Time	Soaking Time
Stovetop (pre-soaked)	75 – 90 minutes	8 – 12 hours
Stovetop (unsoaked)	2 – 3 hours	–
Pressure cooker (pre-soaked)	14 minutes	8 – 12 hours
Pressure cooker (unsoaked)	45 – 50 minutes	–
Slow cooker (pre-soaked)	4 hours	8 – 12 hours
Slow cooker (unsoaked)	9 – 11 hours	–

Different Methods and Processes for Boiling Chickpeas

Follow these steps to appropriately boil your chickpeas:

1.    Stovetop (Pre-soaked)

With 8 to 12 hours of overnight soaking, your chickpeas should be boiled for 75 to 90 minutes.

Make sure to bring the water to a boil first, then reduce the heat and let the chickpeas simmer until the time’s up.

You can also cover the pot to produce silkier chickpeas, or leave it uncovered if you like your chickpeas starchier.

2.    Stovetop (Unsoaked)

Are you in a hurry to boil your chickpeas via stovetop?

Simmer them for five minutes in boiling water, and then turn the burner off. Let them sit in the heated water for 45 to 60 minutes.

3.    Pressure Cooker (Pre-soaked)

A 12-hour-long chickpea pre-soak will only require 14 minutes of boiling in a pressure cooker. It produces soft, yet slightly firm, chickpeas.

4.    Pressure Cooker (Unsoaked)

This hands-off method requires you to cook chickpeas at high pressure for 45 to 50 minutes. Then, allow 20 minutes for a natural release.

5.    Slow Cooker (Pre-soaked)

Ideal for making mashed chickpeas, this method takes 8 to 12 hours of soaking and high-pressure boiling for 4 hours.

6.    Slow Cooker (Unsoaked)

No-soak, slow cooker chickpea boiling takes between 9 to 11 hours. That’s 3 hours of high-pressure cooking and 7 hours of low-pressure cooking; this rewards you with very soft chickpeas.

Other Tips for Cooking Chickpeas

• Drain and rinse the chickpeas between soaking and boiling.
• When boiling chickpeas, add 2 cups of water and ½ teaspoon of salt for every ½ cup of dried chickpeas.
• If you live in a hard water area, add bicarbonate soda to the water when soaking chickpeas overnight (1 teaspoon per 500g chickpeas).

Mastering the Art of Cooking Chickpeas

If you want your chickpeas to be utterly soft and have the luxury of time, place them in a slow cooker and they’ll be ready in a few hours. If you want them cooked as quickly as possible, use a pressure cooker and they’ll be done in minutes.

From salads, stews and soups, simple yet nutritious chickpeas shouldn’t be underestimated. With their subtle nutty flavor, they easily blend with a wide range of dishes, giving them added texture and richness.