Can you eat frozen edamame raw?
In this article, we will answer the question “Can you eat frozen edamame raw?”, and what are the health benefits of edamame beans?
Can you eat frozen edamame raw?
Yes, you can eat frozen edamame raw. Edamame beans are partially cooked before freezing. Therefore, you can eat the frozen edamame without further cooking. For thawing, pop the frozen edamame in the fridge overnight or microwave for a few seconds.
Can also be cooked if you do not like the taste or a slightly brittle texture of raw edamame. Place the edamame pods in a saucepan or steamer with some water and cook for about 5-10 minutes.
Alternatively, microwave the edamame pods on high for about 1-2 minutes. Before microwaving, place the edamame in a small bowl with some water. Drain the excess water from the edamame after microwaving. You can also boil, stir-fry, or saute shelled edamame for about 3-5 minutes.
Edamame with Soy and Sesame sauce
Ingredients
- 150 grams edamame in pods
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Fill a pot with cold water and season it with some salt. Bring this water to a rolling boil. Stir in the edamame and boil for about 3-4 minutes. Drain the water and wash the boiled edamame under cold running water. Spread the edamame on paper towels to soak the excess water.
- In a saucepan, heat the sesame oil. When the oil starts to smoke, stir in the boiled edamame and fry for about 2-3 minutes or until the pods are nice and charred.
- Stir in the sauce and cook until the sauce evaporates.
- Sprinkle some salt and as per to taste.
- Serve and enjoy.
What to serve with this edamame recipe
The edamame with soy and sesame sauce makes for an excellent and nutritious snack. You can also munch on this edamame recipe as a side-serve at a sushi party. You can also serve it alongside Japanese classics such as Japanese curry rice, Agedashi tofu, Okonomiyaki, Miso ramen, and Omurice, etc.
Can dogs eat edamame?
Yes, dogs can eat edamame but no more than 2-3 beans at once. Heavy consumption of edamame beans can lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea in dogs. This is because dogs cannot digest high portions of fiber-rich foods such as edamame beans.
What about cats?
The same goes for cats. Edamame beans are not safe for cats in large quantities. The high-fiber food puts too much pressure on the tiny stomach of the cats.
How long does cooked edamame last?
Cooked and refrigerated edamame lasts about 4 days. This only applies if the edamame was stored within 2 hours of cooking in an air-tight container. Toss the edamame after 3-4 days of refrigeration even if they look perfectly fine.
How to eat edamame?
Traditionally, the edamame beans are seasoned with salt and eaten as-is to enjoy their natural crunch. In the edamame recipe mentioned above, the soy sauce and the sesame sauce overpower the favor of the edamame beans.
Health benefits of edamame
High in protein
Most plant foods are a poor source of good quality protein. But the beans including the edamame beans are the best protein-rich foods in the vegan or vegetarian diet. A single cup (155g) of cooked edamame provides 18.5 grams of protein.
May lower cholesterol
High blood cholesterol levels lead to heart diseases. The soy proteins present in edamame beans are proven helpful in lowering blood LDL levels.
In addition to this, edamame beans are a rich source of healthy fiber, antioxidants, and vitamin K. All of this helps to improve the blood lipid profile and reduce the risk of heart diseases.
Does not raise blood sugar
Regular consumption of sugar can lead to chronic diseases. This is because sugar is digested quickly that leads to a spike in the blood sugar levels, a condition known as hyperglycemia.
Edamame beans have a lower sugar content and boast a low glycemic index value. This makes edamame a particularly healthy food for diabetics and those on a carb-restricted diet.
Rich in vitamins and minerals
The following table compares the vitamin and mental content of 3.5 ounces (100 grams) of edamame and mature soybeans.
| Edamame (RDI) | Mature soybeans (RDI) | |
| Folate | 78% | 14% |
| Vitamin K1 | 33% | 24% |
| Thiamine | 13% | 10% |
| Riboflavin | 9% | 17% |
| Iron | 13% | 29% |
| Copper | 17% | 20% |
| Manganese | 51% | 41% |
Other FAQs about Soybeans that you may be interested in.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “Can you eat frozen edamame raw?”, and what are the health benefits of edamame beans?
