How to cook edamame beans

COOKING WITH EDAMAME

Any soybean must be cooked before consumption, as all raw soy protein is considered poisonous. Cook whole edamame pods in boiling salted water for six to eight minutes, or until tender. The pods can also be steamed or microwaved, if you prefer.

The two best ways to cook whole edamame are to boil the pods in lightly salted water, or steam your edamame and finish with a sprinkle with a bit of sea salt. Edamame can be enjoyed warm, cold, or at room temperature.

Edamame is rich in the antioxidant kaempferol, which has been shown to cause weight loss and lower blood sugar in animal studies ( 55 , 56 ). It is also high in folate and several minerals, including iron, magnesium, and manganese. One cup (155 grams) of edamame has around 17 grams of protein and 180 calories.

In addition to being a decent source of soy protein, edamame is rich in healthy fiber, antioxidants and vitamin K. These plant compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease and improve the blood lipid profile, a measure of fats including cholesterol and triglycerides ( 9 , 10 ).

So stay away from soy isoflavone supplements and foods made with textured vegetable protein and soy protein isolate, found in many protein powders and nutrition bars. Still, McManus says it’s okay to eat whole soy foods — like soy milk, edamame, and tofu — in moderation, several times per week.

Edamame is more expensive for many reasons including: it is used and therefore grown on a much smaller scale than regular soybeans, so has lower economies of scale and higher costs per yield. The yield (pounds of available product per acre) for edamame is much lower than regular soybeans.

You may find certain soy foods easier to digest. The body lacks the necessary enzyme to completely digest the type of carbohydrates in soy milk, soy flour, soybeans, and other legumes, producing uncomfortable gas in susceptible people. However, edamame, or boiled green soybeans, is harvested before the carbs form.

Edamame is a unique legume

However, edamame beans are unique. They have ample amounts of dietary fiber — which helps compensate for their overall carb content ( 7 ). This is because dietary fiber is a type of carb that your body doesn’t digest. Instead, it moves along your digestive tract and adds bulk to your stool.

Less processed soy foods include tofu, edamame or soy beans, and soy milk. Aside from the misguided belief soy can cause weight-gain, people may avoid it for two other reasons. Some claim it’s an “estrogenic,” meaning it can increase the amount of estrogen hormone in your body.

Gases are also what can make farts smell bad. Tiny amounts of hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane combine with hydrogen sulfide (say: SUHL-fyde) and ammonia (say: uh-MOW-nyuh) in the large intestine to give gas its smell. Phew!

Intolerance to food

Food intolerance is a very common cause of bad odor flatulence. Typical conditions that can cause smelly flatulence include lactose and gluten intolerances. In both of these conditions, the body’s inability to break down lactose or gluten causes smelly gas to build up and eventually be released.