Canned chickpeas are a convenient, shelf-stable food that can be used as a base ingredient in many recipes. But are they a processed food? In short, the answer is yes—canned chickpeas are processed.
To understand why, it’s important to first look at what constitutes a processed food. According to the National Institutes of Health, processed foods are those “which have been altered from their natural state through canning, freezing, drying, baking or other means of preservation.” This definition includes canned foods like canned chickpeas, which have been cooked and preserved in lidded cans.
Canned chickpeas undergo a few steps in order to become shelf stable. First, the beans are soaked in water for 12–24 hours and then cooked until soft.
Then they’re placed into cans and sealed with airtight lids. Finally, the cans are heated at high temperatures for several hours to kill any bacteria present and help preserve the food for long-term storage.
This cooking process changes some of the nutritional content of chickpeas. For example, when canned chickpeas are compared to dried or cooked fresh chickpeas, they contain significantly fewer vitamins and minerals than their fresh counterparts because some nutrients are lost during processing and storage. Additionally, canned chickpeas may contain higher levels of sodium than fresh beans due to added salt during processing.
In summary, canned chickpeas definitely qualify as a processed food according to definitions provided by the National Institutes of Health. They undergo several steps—soaking, cooking and canning—in order to become shelf-stable for long-term storage. While this process does provide convenience for consumers, it also results in some nutrient loss when compared to fresh or dried versions of the same legume.
Conclusion: Yes, canned chickpeas are a processed food because they have gone through steps such as soaking, cooking and canning before becoming shelf-stable for long-term storage. However, these processes do result in some nutrient loss when compared to fresh or dried versions of this legume.
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