Don't worry. It's not you. It's the beans. Old beans can take FOREVER to cook. And quite honestly, you might have a batch so old, it doesn't matter how long you cook'em, they will just not get soft enough. If you find your chickpeas are not as soft as you would like, go ahead and just cook them a little longer. In the slow cooker -- try an extra 30 minutes to an hour. In the Instant pot, for soaked beans return the lid and cook for another 1-3 minutes on high pressure. For unsoaked beans, try adding another 5-10 minutes. In each case, let the pressure release naturally after the cooking time is up. A few tips: - First, try to avoid old beans! Buy from a store that has high turnover. Dry beans last forever, so this can be challenging. I do buy from our local bulk store because I can see how busy it is. I've never had any trouble with their products. I trust them. You will need to find a store that you trust. - Buy smaller quantities. Don't buy more than you think you can through in a few months. At least until you know the store or the merchant you are buying from and if you know you are getting something fresh.