Your Cool Home is supported by its readers. Please assume all links are affiliate links. If you purchase something from one of our links, we make a small commission from Amazon. Thank you!
To pressure cook garbanzo beans, you simply add dried chickpeas, water, and a touch of oil to your electric pressure cooker and let it do the heavy lifting in under an hour.
If you’ve been wondering how to pressure cook garbanzo beans perfectly every time, you’re in the right place.
Learning how to pressure cook garbanzo beans is one of those kitchen skills that pays off big time because you get creamy, tender beans for a fraction of the cost of canned ones.
In this post, we’ll walk through how to pressure cook garbanzo beans step by step, plus soak times, water ratios, and seasoning tips.
Let’s dive in.
How to Pressure Cook Garbanzo Beans (The Simple Answer)
When you pressure cook garbanzo beans, the process is straightforward once you know the ratios.
Here’s the basic method for how to pressure cook garbanzo beans in an electric cooker like an Instant Pot:
1. Rinse and Sort Your Beans
Start by pouring your dried garbanzo beans into a colander and rinsing them under cool water.
Pick out any shriveled beans or tiny stones that sometimes sneak into the bag.
This takes two minutes and saves you from a gritty bite later.
2. Add Water at the Right Ratio
To pressure cook garbanzo beans, use about 3 cups of water for every 1 cup of dried beans.
The beans need plenty of liquid since they’ll absorb a lot as they cook.
Add a tablespoon of oil to the pot too, which helps reduce foaming and keeps the steam valve from clogging.
3. Set the Time and Let It Go
If you’re using unsoaked beans, pressure cook garbanzo beans for 35 to 40 minutes on high pressure.
For soaked beans, you can pressure cook garbanzo beans for just 12 to 15 minutes.
Then let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes before opening the lid.
4. Season After Cooking
Wait until the beans are fully cooked before adding salt, because salt added too early can toughen the skins.
Once they’re tender, drain them and season however you like.
Now you know the basics of how to pressure cook garbanzo beans.
Should You Soak Garbanzo Beans Before You Pressure Cook Them?
You can pressure cook garbanzo beans without soaking, but soaking changes the game in a few ways.
1. Soaking Cuts Cooking Time Dramatically
When you soak garbanzo beans overnight, they soften and plump up, which means you only need to pressure cook garbanzo beans for about 12 to 15 minutes.
That’s a huge time saver on busy weeknights.
2. Soaking Improves Digestion
Soaking helps break down phytic acid and some of the complex sugars that make beans gas-inducing.
If you pressure cook garbanzo beans after soaking, many people find the beans easier on the stomach.
3. Skipping the Soak Still Works Fine
No time to soak?
No problem, because you can still pressure cook garbanzo beans straight from dry in under an hour.
Just add a few extra minutes to the timer and you’re set.
Tips to Pressure Cook Garbanzo Beans Perfectly Every Time
A few small tweaks make a big difference when you pressure cook garbanzo beans at home.
1. Don’t Overfill the Pot
Beans expand as they cook, so never fill your cooker more than halfway with beans and liquid combined.
This keeps things safe and prevents foam from blocking the valve when you pressure cook garbanzo beans.
2. Add Flavor to the Cooking Liquid
Toss in a bay leaf, a clove of garlic, or a piece of kombu seaweed while you pressure cook garbanzo beans.
The beans soak up that subtle flavor, and kombu also helps soften them further.
3. Test for Tenderness Before Draining
Before you drain the pot, scoop out a bean and taste it.
It should mash easily between your fingers.
If it’s still firm, pressure cook garbanzo beans for another 5 minutes and check again.
4. Save the Cooking Liquid
The water left behind after you pressure cook garbanzo beans is called aquafaba, and it’s liquid gold.
You can whip it into vegan meringue or use it to thicken soups and stews.
What to Do With Your Cooked Garbanzo Beans
Once you pressure cook garbanzo beans, the possibilities are endless.
1. Blend Them Into Hummus
Homemade hummus made from beans you pressure cook garbanzo beans style tastes miles better than anything from a can.
Blend them with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil for a silky dip.
2. Toss Them Into Salads and Bowls
Cold garbanzo beans add protein and texture to salads, grain bowls, and wraps.
3. Roast Them for a Crunchy Snack
Pat the beans dry, toss with olive oil and spices, and roast at 400°F until crispy.
It’s a healthy alternative to chips, and it all starts when you pressure cook garbanzo beans at home.
4. Freeze Them for Later
Portion your cooked beans into bags and freeze them for up to six months.
Then you’ll always have beans ready whenever you pressure cook garbanzo beans in bulk.
So, How Do You Pressure Cook Garbanzo Beans?
To pressure cook garbanzo beans, you rinse dried chickpeas, add water and oil, then cook on high pressure for 35 to 40 minutes unsoaked or 12 to 15 minutes soaked.
Learning how to pressure cook garbanzo beans gives you tender, creamy beans whenever you need them, without relying on cans.
Whether you soak them first or pressure cook garbanzo beans straight from dry, the result is the same delicious payoff.
Grab a bag of dried chickpeas and give it a try this week.