Dried-chickpea stew cooks
If you soak dried chickpeas and want to avoid a long stovetop simmer, look for a pressure-cook setting and clear instructions for liquid, fill level and release. Cooking time can vary with the chickpeas and the cooker.
Who is this for?
One-pot weeknight cooks
If you want to sauté the stew base and finish cooking in one appliance, compare the available cooking settings and instructions. On-screen recipe guidance may matter more to you than a long list of additional programmes.
Batch cooks who want extra functions
If you regularly make several portions or plan to use air frying as well, consider bowl size and any additional lids. Check the pressure-cooking fill limit and where you would store the accessories.
What matters when choosing?
For dried-chickpea stew, check the pressure-cooking instructions before comparing guided recipes, bowl size or extra functions. A cooker intended mainly for tinned-chickpea stews can be chosen around a different workflow.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking dried chickpeas | Check for a pressure-cook setting and the exact model's liquid, maximum-fill and release instructions. | If soaked dried chickpeas are the main ingredient, I want a dependable way to cook them without a long simmer. Around 42% of consumers would put dried-chickpea pressure cooking first. |
| One-pot workflow | Compare sauté and cooking settings; look at the instructions or on-screen guidance if you want help with the steps. | When making stew on a weeknight, I would rather build the base and finish the dish in one pot than manage several pans. One-pot simplicity comes first for around 33% of consumers. |
| Capacity and extra uses | Compare bowl size with the pressure-cook fill mark, and consider whether a second lid needs storage. | If I make several portions or regularly cook other dishes, room in the bowl and useful extra functions matter more. Around 25% of consumers would prioritise capacity and broader use. |
Buying pitfalls
-
Choosing slow cooking alone for dried chickpeas
A slow-cook setting suits a longer stew, but it does not offer the high-pressure route available on a pressure multicooker. Tinned chickpeas offer a simpler starting point when cooking dried pulses is not the aim.
If dried chickpeas are central to your plans, check for pressure cooking and follow the model's pulse-cooking instructions. Do not apply chickpea instructions to dried kidney beans, which need their own preparation precautions.
-
Assuming the whole bowl can be pressure cooked
The stated bowl capacity is not necessarily the permitted pressure-cooking fill level, particularly for ingredients that expand. A thick stew also needs the liquid required by the appliance.
Check the exact model's fill mark and liquid rules. Instant Pot UK specifies water-based liquid, at least 375ml, and a level below the PC Max 2/3 line for pressure cooking in its Plus 5.7L model.
-
Choosing extra programmes you will rarely use
Air frying and additional programmes offer other cooking options, but a second lid takes storage space and is not needed to make chickpea stew.
Decide whether you will regularly use the larger bowl or crisping lid before choosing a cooker for those features.
-
Overlooking pressure-release instructions
Pressure cooking involves hot liquid and escaping steam. The lid and release procedure are part of the choice, not just details to learn after purchase.
Read the exact model's setup and release instructions before using it. Keep hands and face clear of escaping steam, and follow any initial test-run directions.
Brands to consider for these cooking routes
Instant Pot
Instant Pot UK describes its Plus 5.7L as a pressure multicooker with pressure-cook, slow-cook and sauté settings.
- The Plus 5.7L guidance gives specific pressure-cooking liquid and fill instructions relevant to stew.
- Those instructions belong to the cited model; check the manual rather than transferring its limits to another Instant Pot cooker.
Tefal
Tefal UK describes two different options: the guided 6L Cook4me Touch CY912840 and the 7.6L Turbo Cuisine & Fry CY778840 with a separate air-frying lid.
- The Cook4me Touch offers on-screen recipe steps, while the Turbo Cuisine & Fry adds a larger bowl and crisping functions, according to Tefal.
- Neither set of features establishes better chickpea-stew results. Consider whether you would use the guidance or have space for the additional lid.
Joybuy product choices
These cookers offer different routes to one-pot chickpea stew. For soaked dried chickpeas, check the exact model's pressure-cooking instructions; the Morphy Richards option is presented here for a slower stew workflow unless its pressure-cook capability is confirmed.
No image available
COSORI 5.7L 9-in-1 electric pressure multicooker
Consider this 5.7L option if pressure cooking and a one-pot stew workflow are priorities. Its title also lists slow cooking, sautéing and a recipe book; check its own pressure-cooking liquid and fill instructions before making dried chickpeas.
No image available
Instant Pot Plus 5.7L 9-in-1 multicooker, black
This is a route for cooks who want to sauté a stew base and pressure cook soaked chickpeas in a 5.7L appliance. Instant Pot UK lists pressure-cook, slow-cook and sauté settings for its Plus 5.7L and instructs users to add at least 375ml of water-based liquid while keeping pressure-cook contents below the PC Max 2/3 line; follow the instructions for the exact appliance and release method.
No image available
Hisense MC6SBUK 6L multicooker, black
Its listed pressure-cooker and slow-cooker functions make it worth considering for different stew workflows. The title specifies a 6L capacity, 10 programmes and stainless steel; confirm whether the title's MC6SBUK code matches the HMC6SBUK code in the description, then consult the corresponding liquid and fill instructions.
No image available
Instant Pot Pro 5.7L 10-in-1 multicooker, black
Consider this 5.7L model if you want to compare an Instant Pot Pro with other one-pot stew cookers. Its title identifies a 10-in-1 variant; before cooking dried chickpeas, check the Pro model's pressure-cook and sauté settings and its own liquid, fill and release instructions rather than using Plus-model limits.
No image available
Morphy Richards 560007 6.5L 10-in-1 multicooker
This 6.5L cooker is a choice to assess for a slower one-pot stew, particularly if you plan to use tinned chickpeas. Its title lists 1350W, 10 preset functions and a dishwasher-safe pot and accessories; confirm that the exact model has a pressure-cook setting if cooking dried chickpeas under pressure matters to you.
Common questions
Can I cook dried chickpeas for stew in a multicooker?
Yes, if the model has a pressure-cook setting and you follow its instructions for soaking, liquid, cooking time and pressure release. Leicester Wholefoods gives around 15 minutes at high pressure for soaked chickpeas as a guide, not a setting that will suit every batch or cooker.
How much liquid should I use for pressure-cooked chickpea stew?
Follow the recipe and the exact cooker's minimum-liquid and fill instructions rather than using one amount for every model. Instant Pot UK specifies water-based liquid, a minimum of 375ml and a level below the PC Max 2/3 line when pressure cooking in its Plus 5.7L model.
Can I put raw dried kidney beans straight into a slow-cooked stew?
Do not rely on slow cooking alone for raw dried kidney beans. The Safer Food Group advises soaking dried red kidney beans for 12 hours, draining them and boiling them vigorously in fresh water for at least 10 minutes; tinned kidney beans are another option. This is kidney-bean guidance, not a claim that chickpeas carry the same risk.
What should I do before using a pressure multicooker for the first time?
Follow the setup and test-run directions for your exact model before cooking food. Instant Pot UK calls for an initial pressure-cooking test run for its Plus 5.7L; read the lid and release instructions and keep clear of escaping steam.
What electrical-safety information should I check when buying in Great Britain?
Check that the product can be identified and comes with instructions and safety information you can follow. The Office for Product Safety and Standards says electrical equipment must meet safety requirements before being placed on the Great Britain market; rules in Northern Ireland can differ under the Windsor Framework. Those purchasing checks do not, by themselves, establish a particular cooker's compliance.